Cricket: Openers fail as Fleming steadies Black Caps

JOHANNESBURG - A resurgent bowling display and a sublime knock from Stephen Fleming failed to mask one worrying deficiency in the Black Caps make-up -- the raw opening combination still appears unconvincing a week out from the first cricket test against South Africa.

Fleming stroked a masterly unbeaten 96 at a run-a-ball pace to spearhead New Zealand's reply of 159 for two to the Rest of South Africa's first innings of 395.

But the skipper's march to a century was postponed when bad light and a thunderstorm stopped play at Willowmoore Park 28 overs before the scheduled close.

While Fleming was in imperious form hitting 15 boundaries and four sixes, he will be concerned at reaching the middle with the score at 26 for two after both openers failed to make an impression.

Michael Papps, in his international comeback from a 13-month hiatus, steered a defensive prod to third slip to end his 19-ball stay at six and the score at 21.

Jamie How followed soon after, trapped adjacent by Garnett Kruger for 11.

New Zealand's opening partnership of How and Hamish Marshall failed to exceed 50 in three tests against the West Indies and problems are still evident against a far from top-line South African bowling attack ahead of next Saturday's first test at Centurion.

Fortunately Fleming and Peter Fulton knuckled down to put the innings back on an even keel with an unbroken 133-run third wicket partnership.

Fleming was by far the dominant partner reaching his half century while Fulton was on 35 and then dominating to such an extent the young Cantabrian was a virtual spectator as Fleming peppered the boundary ropes.

Such was the skipper's dominance Fulton scored just a solitary single after tea as Fleming plundered 46 to zero in on his century.

Fleming reached 50 with an exquisite cover drive -- his eighth boundary. He also pummelled a brace of sixes off Kruger and another towering on drive off Robin Peterson.

While Fleming was toying with the South African attack he carved four consecutive boundaries off one Rory Kleinveldt over heading into the 70s.

When play was finally called off as a thunderstorm struck 40 minutes after New Zealand were offered the light, the Black Caps were within sight of the follow-on target of 246.

At the start of play New Zealand risked a mammoth first innings deficit but the hosts' intentions of posting a 500-plus total were swiftly undone when JP Duminy was caught at slip by Fleming off Chris Martin after adding two to his overnight score of 125.

Duminy's departure proved the catalyst for a spectacular collapse -- the last seven wickets fell for just 40 runs -- as the Black Caps bowlers erased memories of yesterday's flailing before stumps.

Neil McKenzie was only able to add 16 in two hours today before being ninth out for 141.

Left armer James Franklin was the chief destroyer, taking three for nine from seven overs to leave with him with a respectable haul of four for 80.

Jacob Oram claimed a scalp in his international comeback from a heel injury and tied up an end with 10 maidens studded among his 21 overs for 46.

New Zealand's damage limitation was also notable for the fact speedster Shane Bond was confined to the team hotel to rest an inflamed knee.

Black Caps management said Bond was rested as a precaution and at this stage he was not in doubt for the test.

He had cortisone jabs to control the inflammation on his right knee earlier this season and medical staff were confident the condition could be managed.

Meanwhile, Franklin said the South African's quick demise indicated the attack was capable of performing without their trump card.

"The bowlers are there for a reason, they can take wickets. It's better to have Shane here but I think as we showed in the second test against the West Indies (won by 10 wickets in Wellington) we can do a job without him."

Franklin admitted the New Zealanders were expecting to spend longer in the field when play resumed after McKenzie and Duminy plundered 167 during yesterday's final session.

"It went better than we anticipated really," he said.

"We were hoping to have them six down at lunch, picking up seven in a session was a long way off from what it was yesterday."


At stumps on the second day of the four-day match between the Rest of South Africa and New Zealand:

Rest of South Africa

First innings (overnight 355-3)
A Petersen b Bond 2
S Cook run out (Franklin/McCullum) 13
J Ontong lbw Franklin 61
N McKenzie b Franklin 141
JP Duminy c Fleming b Martin 127
D Jacobs c How b Martin 4
T Tsolekile c Fleming b Oram 11
R Peterson run out (sub Patel/Vettori) 1
R Kleinveldt not out 4
G Kruger lbw Franklin 0
M Zondeki lbw Franklin 1
Extras (10lb 13nb 7w) 30
Total (all out, 117 overs) 395
Fall: 17 (Petersen), 42 (Cook) 107 (Ontong) 359 (Duminy) 363 (Jacobs) 385 (Tsolekile) 387 (Peterson) 391 (McKenzie) 391 (Kruger) 395 (Zondeki)
Bowling: Shane Bond 10-1-51-1 (9nb 5w); James Franklin 24-3-80-4 (2nb 1w); J Oram 21-10-46-1 (1nb); C Martin 20-5-74-2; D Vettori 29-3-95-0 (1nb); S Styris 13-3-39-0 (1w).

New Zealand

First innings
M Papps c A Petersen b Zondeki 6
J How lbw Kruger 11
P Fulton not out 36
S Fleming not out 96
Extras (10nb) 10
Total (for 2 wkts, 35.1 overs) 159
Fall: 21 (Papps) 26 (How)
Bowling: G Kruger 8-1-44-1 (4nb); M Zondeki 7.1-0-33-1 (3nb); R Kleinveldt 11-5-50-0 (3nb); R Peterson 9-3-32-0.

- NZPA