Cricket: South Africa in control of third Test

New Zealand’s Gillespie takes six in first-innings.

WELLINGTON: Centuries from Alviro Petersen and JP Duminy gave South Africa an iron grip on the weather-affected third Test against New Zealand in Wellington.

South Africa declared their first-innings at 474 for nine in the final session at Basin Reserve before New Zealand reached 65 without loss at stumps with Daniel Flynn on 35 and Martin Guptill on 28.

It was a sound start by New Zealand, who face an uphill battle to win the Test and level the three-match series, which South Africa lead 1-0.

Earlier, South Africa resumed at 246 for two and moved to 362 for three at lunch but the dismissal of Petersen for a career-high 156 sparked a collapse.

Gillespie, the most successful of the New Zealand bowlers with six for 113, claimed the wickets of Jacques Rudolph and Dale Steyn before tea for New Zealand to finish the middle session with four wickets for 75 runs.

Gillespie then dismissed Mark Boucher and Vernon Philander before Graeme Smith declared the South African innings.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 26^th, 2012.