Mark Gillespie took four wickets in the opening session to put New Zealand back in contention on day two of the second Test against South Africa on Friday.
Published: Mar 16, 2012, 10:00 AM (IST)
Edited: Mar 16, 2012, 10:00 AM (IST)
New Zealand pacer Mark Gillespie (L) ended the session with figures of four for 24 for the innings © Getty Images
Hamilton: Mar 16, 2012
Mark Gillespie took four wickets in the opening session to put New Zealand back in contention on day two of the second Test against South Africa on Friday.
South Africa resumed at 27 for two after bowling out New Zealand for 185 on the opening day, seemingly well in control after a dramatic middle-order batting collapse from the home side.
But Gillespie, making a triumphant return to Test cricket after more than three years in the wilderness, reduced the tourists to six for 88 in the first hour before AB de Villiers set about rebuilding South Africa’s innings.
The tourists went into the lunch break at 133 for six, 52 shy of New Zealand’s total, with de Villiers unbeaten on 41 alongside Mark Boucher on 14.
South Africa added 35 to their overnight total before Gillespie dismissed Hashim Amla for 16, the batsman attempting to guide the ball through backward point but sending a low catch to Kane Williamson.
The 32-year-old, called into a revamped attack after New Zealand disappointed with the ball in the drawn first Test, struck again in his next over to claim the prized scalp of Jacques Kallis.
Kallis, who scored a century in the first Test, never looked comfortable against Gillespie and was lucky to top-edge a short-pitched ball safely over the boundary for six.
He dabbed tentatively down the leg side two balls later, doing just enough for the face of the bat to kiss the ball and travel to Kruger van Wyk behind the stumps.
Gillespie made it three when he trapped Alviro Petersen (29) lbw with a ball that hit the batsman low in the pads, a television review umpire upholding the original decision the delivery was plumb and headed for middle stump.
The carnage continued with Gillespie’s fourth wicket in four overs when Jacques Rudolph, another century-maker in the first Test, clipped an edge to van Wyk, out for one after facing only four balls.
Gillespie ended the session with figures of four for 24 for the innings.
The bowler took five for 136 on debut against South Africa in November 2007 but played only two more Tests before being sidelined by a series of injuries.
He earned a recall to the Test squad after a strong season for Wellington in the domestic competition. (AFP)
Brief Score: New Zealand: 185 all out (Brendon McCullum 61, Ross Taylor 44; Vernon Philander 4 for 70, Dale Steyn 3 for 49) lead South Africa 133 for 6 (Ab de Villiers 83; Mark Gillespie 4 for 24) by 54 runs
