Black Caps declare on 593-8

2006-04-29 11:26

Cape Town - A maiden Test century for James Franklin and an unbeaten ninth wicket partnership of 58 saw New Zealand to a mammoth 593 for eight declared on the third morning of the second Test at Newlands on Saturday.

New Zealand resumed their first innings on the overnight score of 535 for eight, and Franklin took 43 minutes to score the seven runs he needed for his first Test century. He had been at the crease for just under four hours, and had faced 255 balls.

With his century safely under his belt, Franklin and his partner Jeetan Patel - playing in his first Test match - shook off the shackles, and set about the South African bowling with a will. When Stephen Fleming declared the innings closed an hour and three minutes after the start of play, they had put on 58 runs off 79 balls, and had hit seven fours and a towering six.

Franklin ended not out on 122, and Patel had 27.

- SAPA