South Africa win after early collapse
South Africa survived a scare on the final afternoon before beating New Zealand by five wickets in the first Test at Springbok Park on Tuesday.
Inspired by a career-best bowling performance by fast bowler Makhaya Ntini, South Africa seemed set for an easy win when they needed to make only 101 on an easy pitch.
But the home team were rocked by the New Zealand pace attack, with opening bowlers Shayne O'Connor and Chris Martin both taking early wickets before Daryl Tuffey struck with three wickets in quick succession.
It took a burst of strokeplay by wicketkeeper Mark Boucher, who made an unbeaten 22 off 11 balls, to put South Africa ahead in the three-Test series.
Boucher finished the match in style with three successive swept fours off legspinner Brooke Walker.
Ntini took six for 66 to end a fighting second innings by New Zealand, who had been forced to follow on. Ntini took three wickets in successive overs after lunch as New Zealand were bowled out for 342 after being 332 for seven at the interval.
New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming, who made 57 and 99 to be his team's top scorer in both innings, said he was pleased with the way his side came back.
"But its icing over the damage that was done early in the match. We would like to have been competing a lot earlier," he said.
Fleming said New Zealand's bowling lacked penetration in the first innings when South Africa made 471 for nine declared and the first innings batting had been "a bit nervous -- we played a lot of shots and weren't cautious enough".
New Zealand's hopes on Tuesday rested with allrounder Craig McMillan, who made a fighting 78. He batted watchfully for four hours in reaching his 50 but then played some handsome offside drives, particularly against Jacques Kallis.
But it was Kallis who deceived McMillan with a slower ball which the batsman mistimed to mid-on. McMillan's dismissal shortly before lunch exposed New Zealand's tail and Ntini was ruthless in finishing off the innings.
Ntini, 23, had taken the first wicket of the day when Brooke Walker flashed at a wide ball at the end of three successive maiden overs by Ntini. After lunch he bowled Tuffey off an inside edge, had Adam Parore caught at second slip and bowled Shayne O'Connor.
It was the first time in six Tests that Ntini had taken five or more wickets in an innings. His previous best figures were four for 72 against England at Leeds in 1998.
"To take six wickets and bowl 30-odd overs on this wicket was a tremendous effort," South African captain Shaun Pollock said of Ntini, who attributed his success to fitness.
"That's one of the most important things, you have to keep running in when your captain wants you to bowl," said Ntini.
Pollock said he was unconcerned by his side's collapse in the second innings.
"Sometimes it gets like that when you are chasing small totals. I am happy with the result. We fought long and hard to get the win. It was a good wicket all the way through and we had to work hard for our wickets."
Ntini shared the man of the match award with Kallis, who made 160 in the first innings.
South Africa made a shaky start as they chased a small target on a good pitch, with Gary Kirsten and Kallis both trapped lbw.
Boeta Dippenaar hit five boundaries in making 27 before becoming Tuffeys first Test victim when he edged a ball which lifted and seamed away to be caught behind.
Cullinan was lbw for 22 and Lance Klusener skied a catch to midwicket before Boucher joined Neil McKenzie to see South Africa through.
Mail Cricket Editor
