Patel makes brilliant start

2006-04-29 12:28

Cape Town - Jeetan Patel had a brilliant start to his Test career when he got the valuable wicket of South African captain Graeme Smith in his first over in Test cricket on the third morning of the second Test at Newlands on Saturday.

South Africa went to lunch on 48 for one, still needing another 345 to avoid the follow-on.

New Zealand batted for just over an hour, and added 58 runs to their overnight score of 535 for eight before Stephen Fleming declared their first innings closed on 593 for eight.

James Franklin took just under 45 minutes to reach his maiden Test century, which came up off 255 deliveries.

With his century safely under his belt, Franklin and Patel set about the South African batting with a will, and their unbeaten tenth wicket partnership included seven fours and a towering six from Franklin.

Fleming brought his spin bowlers on in the ninth over, and his ploy succeeded when Patel caught Smith off his own bowling for 25. Smith stood his ground, clearly thinking it had been a bump ball, and the decision was referred to the third umpire, who gave Smith out.

At lunch, Boeta Dippenaar, who will be desperate to make up for dropping double centurion Fleming on 136 was not out on 13 and Hashim Amla, playing in his first Test for 15 months, had six.

- SAPA