New Zealand stumble to 221 on slow track

South Africa attacked with spin and seam, shuffled their bowlers regularly like a pack of cards, and hustled on the field to keep a tight leash on New Zealand. Jesse Ryder and Ross Taylor were at the forefront of a revival from the depths of 16 for 2 but their departure in quick succession left New Zealand scrambling towards a below-par total on a slow track.

Carefully, almost mindful of a potential lower-order collapse on this pitch, Ryder and Taylor battled through. The odd boundary signalled growing comfort, but they never broke away decisively. A nervy equilibrium had been reached by the end of the 30th over with New Zealand reaching 112 for 2 and the game was waiting to be seized. New Zealand, however, weren't brave enough, or skilful enough, to take it. They made couple of weak-hearted attempts but only stumbled and stuttered.

First, it was Taylor, who raised New Zealand hopes with a slog-swept six off Peterson in the 32nd over but soon exited, falling to the same shot. He top-edged a slog sweep off Imran Tahir in the 33rd over to cue charged-up celebrations from the bowler.

Next, it was the turn of Scott Styris to flatter and deceive. He unfurled a lovely on driven four and a pulled boundary off Morne Morkel and lifted Johan Botha to the straight boundary to push New Zealand to 153 for 3 in the 38th over, but then fell, edging a slog on to his stumps against Morkel.

New Zealand sent in Kane Williamson and pressure escalated on Ryder to attack. Ryder tried but failed, top-edging a slog sweep off a delighted Tahir. With Ryder's exit New Zealand were on 157 for 5 by the 39th over and 250 went flying out of the window as they settled for a "decent" total. It was left to Williamson, who worked the angles with grunted pushes and punches, to lift New Zealand past 200. He lifted Robin Peterson for a six over long-on and punched Steyn to the extra cover boundary to give some joy to the New Zealand fans.

Credit must be given to South Africa, and Graeme Smith, who made innumerable bowling changes on this slow track. No bowler was exposed to any batsman for any length of period and barring Morkel, all the bowlers turned up with their A game. Morkel had an off day, struggling to find a nagging line or length and leaked almost six runs per over but redeemed himself somewhat by picking up a couple of wickets in the final overs.

It was Morkel who had allowed Ryder, and New Zealand, to break away initially at the start. Ryder made a scratchy start, playing too late on many deliveries, but broke free against Morkel, pulling and whiplashing him through the off side. Ryder also slapped Peterson for a couple of boundaries.

The back-lift was minimal, the foot movement was limited but precise, and the bat-speed increased tremendously whenever he unfurled those lashes through the off side. He brought up his fifty in the 22nd over and the hundred partnership with Taylor in the 30th over as New Zealand slowly moved towards a position of some comfort before it all went pear shaped.