Date-stamped : 15 Mar95 - 10:34 New Zealand v South Africa, One-off Test Eden Park, Auckland, 4-8 March 1995. ====> Day 2, 5 Mar 95 New Zealand made a solid start in their first innings against South Africa in tne centenary test here Sunday, scoring 94 for one at stumps in reply to South Africa`s total of 294. South Africa, after winning the toss and electing to bat, started the second day at Eden Park on a comfortable 153-3 but collapsed be- fore lunch and at the interval had lost seven wickets with the total on 239. A new ball attack did the damage, with three wick- ets falling with the score remaining at 230. Daryll Cullinan, who began the day 82 not out, was denied his century. He was out for 96, caught trying to pull a ball from fast bowler Danny Morrison. South African captain Hansie Cronje tried to rescue the situation and made 41 before he was caught at gully by Martin Crowe off Morrison. The South Africans did not last long after that. Dave Richardson flourished briefly and made 18 but the tourists could not build partnerships and were all out shortly after tea. Of the New Zealand bowlers, Dion Nash took four wickets for 72 runs and Morrison three for 53. Opening the New Zealand innings on a pitch that was drying out and becoming easier for the batsmen, Bryan Young and Darrin Mur- ray put on 86 before Murray was out for 25, caught at short leg off the bowling of Cronje. The pair had been on course to achieve New Zealand`s first century opening partnership in 18 tests. At the close, Young was still at the crease with 62 and Martin Crowe, recalled to the test team after months of injury, was one not out. Contributed by vasa (vasanthan.dasan@central.sun.com) ====> Day 2, more NEW ZEALAND let five catches slip through their fingers but had still worked themselves into a good position after two days of their Centenary Test against South Africa at Eden Park. After an uneven batting display South Africa, 153 for three over- night, were dismissed for 294 after losing three wickets at 230 when Danny Morrison, Dion Nash and Gavin Larsen came back strong- ly with the new ball. In the remaining 43 overs New Zealand reached 94 for one with Bryan Young unbeaten on 62. Darryl Cullinan lost his way on the second morning when a century was within reach. At 96 he played an over-ambitious pull stroke off Morrison and was smartly caught at midwicket. Source :: The Electronic Telegraph (http://www.telegraph.co.uk) Contributed by Travis (travis@jolt.mpx.com.au) ====> Day 3, 6 Mar 95 Adam Parore`s assertive 89 helped New Zealand to creep into a first innings lead on Monday in their centenary test against South Africa at Auckland. At stumps on the third day, New Zea- land had moved to 316 for seven in reply to the South African to- tal of 294. Wicketkeeper Parore`s fluent strokeplay was the main highlight of an otherwise slow day at Eden Park. He hit shots to all parts of the ground and his innings included 12 fours and a six lofted over the sightscreen behind left-arm spinner Clive Eksteen. His dismissal, when he played a tentative shot to an Allan Donald delivery and was caught behind, was out of character in a mainly positive display. Resuming Monday morning at 94 for one, New Zealand had hoped to add 280 more runs over the three sessions. But in sunny condi- tions and on a gentle pitch, they managed to boost their total by only 222. The South African attack bowled a tight line, with their seamers sharing the wickets. Donald, Craig Matthews and skipper Hansie Cronje each claimed two, while Fanie de Villiers picked up the other. Contributed by Vasa (vasanthan.dasan@central.sun.com) ====> Day 3, more THE TOUGH, hard competitive instincts of the top South African sportsman have seldom been so vividly portrayed as by Allan Donald and his fellow bowlers during the third day of the cen- tenary Test against New Zealand at Eden Park. South Africa scored 294 in the first third of the match and when New Zealand began the third day at 94 for one there was the pros- pect that the home side would build a winning position. Bryan Young was settled at 62 not out, Martin Crowe just starting a key innings, the sun warm, the pitch at its most amiable. In conditions so much in favour of the batsmen Donald, Fanie de Villiers and Craig Matthews - with minor aid from Hansie Cronje and Clive Eksteen - staged such a sterling recovery operation that at the end of the day New Zealand were only 316 for seven wickets. From the 90 overs New Zealand had scraped together only 222 runs, and the winning chance had virtually disappeared. Before lunch, Young was allowed only another 12 runs, the dom- inating Crowe spirit was never allowed to develop, and Steve Fleming was brushed aside. In those two hours New Zealand scored only 50 runs for the loss of three key wickets. Adam Parore led a brave counter-attack in mid-afternoon, making 89 from 126 balls, and with modest help from a struggling Ken Rutherford (28 from 112 balls) put on 82 for the fifth wicket. But once Parore`s fighting innings was ended by Donald, New Zea- land tossed away the winning script. Source :: The Electronic Telegraph (http://www.telegraph.co.uk) Contributed by Travis (travis@jolt.mpx.com.au) ====> Day 4, 7 Mar 95 THE scent of a ball-tampering incident added more spice than the cricket as the centenary Test between New Zealand and South Afri- ca meandered through its fourth day at Eden Park yesterday. South Africa entered the last day 198 runs in credit but, with the pitch retaining its easy-paced nature, there was little chance that either side had time to press home a victory. Hudson, badly out of form in his recent home series, batted fluently for his 64 until he was spectacularly caught by a diving Bryan Young in the covers. Rumours began that Dion Nash, the New Zealand medium-fast bowler, who is to join Middlesex in the next county season, was about to be cited for ball-tampering. Radio reports seemed to insist that Barry Jarman, the former Aus- tralian wicketkeeper and now the International Cricket Council referee, would consider the offence and possibly inflict a suspension or fine. Afterwards more reasonable counsel prevailed. The two coaches Bob Woolmer, of South Africa, and John Reid, of New Zealand, dis- cussed what they described as a "minor matter" and decided that no further action was warranted. ====> Day 5, 8 Mar 95 THE centenary Test between New Zealand and South Africa needed a magic touch to bring the last day to life at Eden Park and Hansie Cronje, the visitors` captain, provided it, giving his team vic- tory. Cronje, 25, moved boldly to his fifth Test century, taking only 151 balls. Soon afterwards, he closed the innings at 308 for six to leave New Zealand needing 275 for victory from 63 overs on a pitch whose only vice was the occasional low bounce. By tea the hosts had rushed to 114 for three, with 35 overs left to get the remaining 163 runs. Ken Rutherford and Stephen Fleming were well into a busy, 64-run partnership, and there was alarm among the South Africans. After the interval, however, Cronje`s bowlers regrouped and New Zealand lost the impetus. Three balls after tea, Fleming got an edge, driving at Craig Matthews, and although Rutherford and Adam Parore kept the runs coming, the South African bowling and fielding wassharper. At 145, Rutherford was caught and New Zealand`s aspirations faded. Cronje marshalled his bowlers expertly and then tied down the New Zealanders with astute fields. They wilted, the innings closed at 181 and Cronje`s men had won with 93 runs and 43 balls to spare. New Zealand now face Sri Lanka in Saturday`s first Test at Na- pier. Martin Crowe is out with his old thigh injury and Matthew Hart, the left-arm spinner, is omitted. Hart has been replaced by Kerry Walmsley, a 21-year-old, 6ft 8in fast-medium bowler who has played only four first-class matches. Source :: The Electronic Telegraph (http://www.telegraph.co.uk) Contributed by Travis (travis@jolt.mpx.com.au)