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SA win 3 - 0 SA gains 15 points; NZ loses 15 points
Draw 1.5 - 1.5 NZ gains 7 points; SA loses 7 points
NZ win 3 - 0 NZ gains 30 points; SA loses 30 points
Hamilton
10 - 14 March 2004
South Africa won the toss and elected to bat first.� New Zealand struggled during the first hour before dismissing Smith (25) and Gibbs (40) during the hour before lunch.� However, at lunch South Africa was gaining the initiative at 2 for 101.� As the pitch evened out, New Zealand was unable to make inroads during the afternoon session and South Africa pilled on 106 runs without loss to be 2 for 207 at tea.� However, shortly after tea, Rudolph (72) was caught at 3 for 211.� South Africa then consolidated until Kallis (92) was out shortly before the end of the day's play.� At stumps, South Africa was 4 for 279 and looking in complete control of the match.
New Zealand struck in the second over of the second morning to dismiss Adams (7) and soon afterwards, McKenzie (10) was out at 6 for 305.� Toward the end of the session, Boucher (22) was trapped in front and Pollock was dropped in slips before South Africa went to lunch at 7 for 379.� Pollock was run out soon after play resumed and then New Zealand missed to opportunities to catch Ntini, allowing Kirsten to move closer to his century and the total to pass 400.� Eventually Ntini (21) was also run out at 9 for 415 before Kirsten posted his 21st Test century.� Kirsten (137) was eventually the last man out in the innings of 459 runs.� Vettori was the best of the bowlers with 4 for 158 off 39.2 overs.� New Zealand then batted through the remaining half hour to tea to be 0 for 4.� However, South Africa then dismissed Richardson (4) and Fleming (27) during the evening session before New Zealand ended the day at 2 for 102, still 158 runs short of the follow on target.
New Zealand resumed on the third morning and batted slowly and relentlessly, taking the score to 127 before Papps (59) was trapped in front.� However, that was South Africa's only breakthrough as New Zealand added just 42 runs in the session to be 3 for 144 at lunch and the follow on target looking increasingly achievable.� South Africa made better progress during the afternoon session and dismissed McMillan (19) at 4 for 172 and then Styris (74) and Cairns (28) fell in the space of two runs as New Zealand slumped to 6 for 225.� At tea, New Zealand was 6 for 234, still needing a further 26 to reach the safety of the follow on target.� New Zealand fought back during the evening session and after passing the follow on target, took the total to 309 before McCullum (57) was caught behind.� From there, New Zealand took the total to 7 for 309 at stumps, just 98 runs in arrears.
New Zealand frustrated the South Africans on the fourth morning and passed their first innings total after losing Vettori (53).� After Oram posted his maiden Test century and the home side passed 500, South Africa finally dismissed Wiseman (36) and Tuffey (0) in consecutive balls to dismiss New Zealand for 509.� Oram was left stranded on 119 while Pollock was the most successful bowler with 4 for 98 off 30.4 overs.� South Africa began the task of erasing the 50 runs deficit badly after losing Smith (5) and Rudolph (0) in consecutive overs to be 2 for 16.� A period of consolidation followed and after the 100 came up, Gibbs (47) was out at 3 for 108.� South Africa struggled for survival during the final overs of the day and at stumps, South Africa was 3 for 134 with a lead of 84 runs.
South Africa resumed on the final morning and made it clear the draw was their preferred option.� New Zealand managed to dismiss McKenzie (52), however, that was their only success.� Kallis posted his 16th Test century before ending on 150 not out when the declaration came at 4 for 313.� Wiseman was the most successful bowler with 2 for 68 off 19 overs.� South Africa had set New Zealand the impossible task of making 264 runs from 23 overs to win the match.� After Papps (12) was dismissed, the match was called off and a draw declared with the score 1 for 39.
Second Test
Auckland
18 - 22 March 2004
New Zealand won the toss and elected to field first.� The decision proved costly as South Africa batted through to lunch, without giving any chances, finish the session at 0 for 82.� The afternoon session proved similarly difficult until late in the session New Zealand missed a run out chance before bowling Gibbs (80) at 1 for 177 on the ball prior to tea.� South Africa then lost Smith (88) on the first ball after tea.� New Zealand could sense that a chance had arisen to climb back into the game.� However, from that point the South Africans continued to inflict more misery on the home side and ended the day in complete control at 2 for 231.
The second morning saw New Zealand put the previous day behind them and run through the cream of the South African batsmen.� Rudolph (17) fell in the third over of the morning followed by Kirsten (1) and Kallis (40) three overs later.� When Boucher (4) fell four overs later, South Africa was 6 for 246 having lost 4 for 15 in ten overs.� As lunch approached, New Zealand dismissed Pollock (10) and at lunch, South Africa was 7 for 277 with New Zealand back into contention.� New Zealand mopped up the tail soon after lunch by dismissing McKenzie (27), Ntini (0) and Terbrugge (0) in the space of 18 balls and seven runs.� South Africa was all out for 296 after earlier positioned to reach well past 400 while Martin was the best of the bowlers with a career best 6 for 76 off 31 overs.� New Zealand began their reply badly, losing Papps (0) and Fleming (4) to be 2 for 12 before batting through to tea with the score 2 for 48.� New Zealand consolidated throughout the evening session and added 89 runs before Richardson (45) was caught at 3 for 137.� By Stumps, Styris had posted his 3rd Test century and New Zealand was 3 for 201, only 95 runs in arrears.
South Africa began the third day looking sown the barrel of a significant first innings deficit unless they could get quick wickets.� However, New Zealand batted through almost the entire session before Styris (170) was caught for his highest Test score, which was also the highest score by a Kiwi against South Africa.� At lunch, New Zealand was 4 for 286, just 10 runs behind the South Africa first innings.� South Africa dismissed McMillan (82) and McCullum (13) in the first hour after lunch as New Zealand steadily began to build their lead.� However, Cairns then came out and reached 40 off 24 balls and stole the initiative back again for New Zealand and at tea, New Zealand was 6 for 397 with a lead of 101 runs.� Cairns went on to post his fifth Test century during the afternoon session and by the time he was out for a career best 158 runs, he had passed 3,000 Test runs and had set a record seventh wicket partnership against all nations with Oram of 225 runs.� Oram (90) was dismissed four runs later at 8 for 578 and at stumps, New Zealand looked to be in control of the match at 8 for 584 with a lead of 288 runs.
South Africa took five overs to dismiss Tuffey (13) and Martin (0) in the fourth morning to have New Zealand all out for 595 runs and a lead of 299 runs.� Pollock was the best of the bowlers while Martin set a new Test record for nine consecutive innings without scoring a run.� South Africa began their second innings badly, lost Smith (0) first ball before batting through to be 1 for 73 at lunch.� During the afternoon session, New Zealand dismissed Gibbs (61) in the first half hour.� However, New Zealand failed to make further inroads while South Africa made light work of erasing the bulk of the deficit and at tea, the tourists were 2 for 198, only 101 runs in arrears.
South Africa continued to demolish the deficit after tea, taking the score to 2 for 249 before the wheels completely fell off.� While Rudolph moved toward his third Test century at one end of the pitch, Kallis (71), Kirsten (1) and McKenzie (0) fell in the space of nine balls for South Africa to be 5 for 250.� Three overs before stumps, Boucher (10) was out and at stumps, South Africa was reeling at 6 for 277, still 22 runs in arrears and with little hope of staving off a New Zealand victory.
New Zealand began the final morning needing to take wickets quickly to avoid Rudolph farming the strike and setting a difficult chase in the last session.� The plan succeeded in the fourth over when Pollock (10) was caught.� After erasing the defict, Boje (20) fell at 8 for 327 giving Cairns his 200th Tr=est wicket followed by Ntini (6) and Terbrugge (2) to see South Africa all out for 349 runs leaving Rudolph stranded in 154 not out.� Martin was again the best of the bowlers with 5 for 104 off 23 overs.� New Zealand needed 51 runs for victory in their final innings and after facing two overs went to lunch at no wicket for 1 run.� Richardson (10) was the only batsman to fall during the afternoon session as New Zealand knocked off the required runs in the eleventh over of the innings to win their first test on home soil against South Africa by nine wickets.
Third Test
Wellington
26 - 30 March 2004
South Africa won the toss and elected to field first.� New Zealand made a slow start, scoring at two runs per over until openers Papps (7) and Richardson (14) were out in consecutive overs at 2 for 23.� By lunch, New Zealand had struggled to 2 for 52.� New Zealand started to pick up the pace during an afternoon session that saw Fleming (30) and Styris (1) dismissed for the addition of 89 runs.� At tea, New Zealand was 4 for 141 having weathered the worst of the conditions.� During the evening session, South Africa finally dismissed Sinclair (74) at 5 for 163.� However, Cairns began to repeat his belligerence from the second Test and with McCullum took the score to 248 before the sixth wicket, McCullum (55) fell on the last ball of the day's play.
South Africa grabbed the early advantage on the second morning by dismissing Cairns (69) and Styris (1) in the second over of the day to have New Zealand 8 for 257. Mason (3) fell at 9 for 264 before oram (34) and Martin (1*) combined for a 33 run partnership to see New Zealand all out for 297 runs. Boje was the most successful bowler with 4 for 65 off 20 overs. South Africa then faced eleven overs before going to lunch at no wicket for 49. After a further period of South Afrcian dominance during which the total moved to 103 runs, New Zealand struck back by dismissing Smith (47), Gibbs (77) and Kirsten (1) to see South Africa 3 for 141 at tea. However, South Africa then steadied batted through the final session without further loss of wickets to be well placed at 3 for 237 at stumps.
New Zealand took the new ball after six overs on the third morning and the decision paid off immediately. Van Jaarsveld (59) was dismissed at 4 for 251 followed by Kallis (0), Boucher (0) and Pollock (5) to see South Africa suddenly reeling at 7 for 270. South Africa then consolidated and took the score past New Zealand's first innings before Boje (25), Ntini (4) and Nel (0) were out for 12 runs leaving Rudolph stranded on 93 not out. South Africa was all out for 316 at lunch, with a first innings lead of 19 runs while Martin was the best of the bowlers with 5 for 55 off 20 overs. New Zealand began their quest to bat South Africa out of the game by losing Papps (0) in the first over after lunch. Late in the session, Fleming (9) was caught before at 2 for 42 before the home side went to tea at 2 for 49. South Africa, wishing to avoid the pattern set in the second Test, managed to dismiss Sinclair (21), Richardson (37) and McCullum (3) during the evening session and at stumps, New Zealand was 5 for 128 with an overall lead of 109 runs.
Rain delayed play for 90 minutes on the fourth morning.� During the eight overs before lunch, New Zealand flayed the South Africans for 50 runs to go to lunch at 5 for 178 with a lead of 159 runs.� During tha afternoon session, South Africa eventually dismissed Cairns (41) and Styris (73) in consecutive overs to have New Zealand 7 for 201.� South Africa continued to claw their way back into the match by dismissing Vettori (9) at 8 for 220.� With a day and a half remaining, the lead of 201 runs did not look like enough to hold South Africa from a series levelling victory and New Zealand needed to push on toward 300.� However, after the addition of only another four runs, Mason (0) was run out and New Zealand was in trouble.� The final wicket partnership added another 28 runs before Oram (40) was dismissed and New Zealand was all out for 252 runs at tea.� Boje was the best of the bowlers with 4 for 69 off 33.2 overs.� South Africa began their run chase for 234 runs after the break and promptly lost Gibbs (16), Rudolph (0) and Kallis (1) in the space of seven runs to be in trouble at 3 for 36.� When bad light stopped play, South Africa had recovered to be 3 for 82, still 152 runs short of victory.
The match was there for the taking by either side on the final morning.� New Zealand needed quick wickets while South Africa merely needed to score at two runs per over.� South Africa claimed the early initiative by scoring at four runs per over before New Zealand slowed the scoring an applied the pressure.� However, South Africa ground onwards through the session and Smith posted his seventh Test century as the match slipped further from the grasp of the home side.� Eventually, Kirsten (76), in his final Test, was trapped in front on the ball prior to lunch at 4 for 207.� When play resumed after lunch, it was only a matter of time before South Africa added the final 27 runs required for victory by six wickets.� Smith (125*) and van Jaarsveld (13*) were the not out batsmen while Martin was the most successful bowler with 2 for 65 off 18.2 overs.
