Cricket: McKenzie 100 warm-up for test

South Africa's Neil McKenzie gave the New Zealand cricket camp full marks for their spying but doubts whether his majestic century yesterday revealed anything they did not already know.

The test No 6 warmed up for next week's first test against New Zealand with an unbeaten 100 off 150 balls as he carted the Central Districts attack all over Napier's McLean Park on day one of their three-day tour match.

At stumps the hosts were teetering at 36 for two in reply to South Africa's 286 for five declared, with Mathew Sinclair and Glen Sulzberger set to resume today.

McKenzie was watched like a hawk by his former Gauteng coach, and now Auckland coach, Mark O'Donnell, hand-picked by New Zealand coach John Bracewell as his assistant for his inside knowledge.

"I think he knows my game backwards. There's nothing he can suddenly see that's going to change," McKenzie laughed after watching O'Donnell lurking in the grandstand.

"He's been around the South African circuit for ages so I don't think anyone from a New Zealand point of view knows our players better than he does."

McKenzie strode to the crease with his side struggling at 86 for three but never looked bothered, cruising to his 15th first-class century with 12 fours and four sixes before stand-in captain Mark Boucher declared the innings.

McKenzie is no stranger to feasting on New Zealand bowlers. His maiden test century spurred South Africa to victory against the Black Caps three years ago.

He was lethal on the cut and cover drive yesterday, lofted paceman Lance Hamilton with a pull shot over mid-wicket for six and also sent spinners Sulzberger and Regan West over the rope three times between them.

His 39-test career, though, has not reached the heights it promised after two centuries in the 2000-2001 summer, and his last 14 innings have produced just one half-century.

He said the recent trot, which dropped his average to 34.01, had not fazed him and he was happy to find some touch after just one net session.

"I'm just enjoying it. You can worry about selection so much, I just want the side to do well. We've got a test series to win."

After being sent into bat on a seaming surface, Jacques Rudolph hit a bright 42 with seven boundaries before South Africa went awry.

Accurate seamer Andrew Schwass caused some alarm, removing Herschelle Gibbs for a scratchy 18 then sending back Gary Kirsten and Martin van Jaarsveld in the space of eight balls just after lunch.

Boucher, taking the reins from Graeme Smith, who was rested with other frontliners Jacques Kallis, Shaun Pollock and Makhaya Ntini, helped to right the ship.

He and McKenzie added 115 off 103 balls, with Boucher's 58 coming off 98 balls, including seven fours and a six.

Schwass ended with figures of three for 57, while test contender Michael Mason took just Rudolph's wicket in his one for 42 off 15.

South Africa's pacemen charged in for the final 12 overs, with Andre Nel bowling a fiery spell and taking Jamie How's wicket as reward to a skied pull shot.

David Terbrugge also bowled with venom and removed Peter Ingram with his eighth ball.

- NZPA