**New Zealand Vs South Africa House! ** - Page 2

Few South Africans witnessed Steyn's five-for in the flesh

Hashim Amla and Jacques Kallis shared an unbroken stand of 158 to put South Africa in control of the first Test against New Zealand in Johannesburg.

After bowling out the Kiwis for 118, the home side reached 179-2 at the close to lead by 287 runs, with Amla 85 not out and Kallis on 76.

Dale Steyn was South Africa's star earlier in the day, taking 5-34 as New Zealand were bowled out in 41.3 overs.

Stephen Fleming top scored with 40 in an otherwise poor batting effort.

New Zealand began the day in a promising position on 41-2, replying to South Africa's first innings total of 226, but once again there was an embarrassingly sparse sprinkling of spectators in the ground to watch the action.

Former Black Caps skipper Fleming stroked one lovely drive down the ground off Steyn but was worked over with a series of short balls before finally nibbling at one from Makhaya Ntini to give AB de Villiers a catch at third slip.

606: DEBATE Awful batting from the Kiwis and another utterly feeble turn-out at the Wanderers BBC Sport's Oliver Brett

With nightwatchman Shane Bond already disposed of, 64-4 became 88-7 as the middle order fell to pieces.

Even the much gentler pace of Kallis proved a major thorn in New Zealand's side, as the all-rounder picked up the middle-order wickets of Scott Styris and Ross Taylor.

In between the two wickets for Kallis - who was rewarded for a nagging line and length with a hint of away movement - Jacob Oram nicked Steyn into a hungry slip cordon.

Lunch was taken at 97-7, but there was no let-up from South Africa after the interval.

Skipper Dan Vettori ballooned a leading edge off Ntini (3-47) to mid-on before Iain O'Brien briefly counter-punched by hitting 14 off Ntini's following over.

Makhaya Ntini played a key role in the demolition of the Kiwis

The innings came to an abrupt end, however, when Steyn trapped Brendon McCullum lbw, and in the same over forced last man Chris Martin to scoop a catch to mid-wicket.

New Zealand needed something special from their bowlers and achieved an early double breakthrough when Herschelle Gibbs edged Bond to slip and Chris Martin yorked home captain Graeme Smith.

But they could not afford to give Amla a life, which they did when wicket-keeper Brendon McCullum failed to take an outside edge off Bond as he m,oved to his right.

It was about time two batsmen took advantage of the superb batting track and Amla and Kallis remorselessly put away the bad balls to collect boundaries either side of tea.

Amla played some particularly eye-catching drives off both front and back foot as he collected 13 fours and Kallis was also rarely troubled and he rounded off his scoring for the the day with two successive pulls for four off O'Brien.

South Africa fast bowler Dale Steyn on the pitch: "It will get more difficult [for batsmen] as the game goes on.

"The guys don't know whether to duck or not, or whether to go forward or back."

New Zealand coach John Bracewell: "To bowl a side out for 226 on the first day and then not take advantage is a missed opportunity."

Kallis became the sixth Test batsman to hit at least 30 centuries

Jacques Kallis hit his fifth century in his last seven Test innings as South Africa ran New Zealand ragged on day two of the second Test at Centurion.

Kallis made 131 off 177 balls as he dominated the New Zealand bowlers with some effortless batting, before Mark Gillespie trapped him lbw.

He and Hashim Amla put on 220 for the second wicket as South Africa soared past New Zealand's feeble 188.

When bad light ended play early, the hosts were 272-3 with Amla on 89.

The best period of day two was undoubtedly the middle session, when the sun shone for the most part and Kallis and Amla treated the crowd to 148 runs in 27 overs.

606: DEBATE I hope Bracewell goes and Martin Crowe or John Wright becomes coach as NZ cricket is right now in a crisis medium-pacer

But as had happened on day one, the storm clouds gathered after tea and the light was offered to Amla and Ashwell Prince with 28 overs remaining.

New Zealand resumed their faltering innings on 187-8, but had only one wicket in hand with opening batsman Craig Cumming recovering from an operation.

Cumming top-scored with 48 before being felled by a Dale Steyn bouncer on Friday, and needed plates inserted into his cheek and jaw.

Makhaya Ntini needed just four balls to finish off New Zealand, with Chris Martin edging into the slip cordon.

Martin returned to remove openers Graeme Smith and Herschelle Gibbs by the ninth over of South Africa's reply.

Smith was dismissed by the last ball of the first over, which he chopped onto his stumps to be bowled for two.

Amla and Kallis have enjoyed batting together in the series

Martin (2-56) then bowled Gibbs for 25 with a delivery that moved sharply off the seam towards the right-hander.

Reduced to 31-2, South Africa fought back through Amla and Kallis, who scored steadily up to lunch.

But Kallis then scored 95 between lunch and tea and reached three figures off 143 balls for his fastest Test century.

He joins the great Sir Don Bradman with 29 Test tons, while Sachin Tendulkar has the record on 37.

He pulled and cut with great ferocity as New Zealand's seamers tended to bowl too short, and showed great certainty against the spin of Daniel Vettori.

I've caught a bit of criticism for not stepping up a gear and hopefully I've silenced those critics Jacques Kallis

His century came courtesy of a short, wide ball from Scott Styris that was laced to the cover boundary.

Amla's innings was notable for some front-foot drives played with great timing and precision.

At the end of the day's play Kallis said: "The last few games and the last year or so it's the way I've been getting my hundreds that has been pleasing.

"I've been getting them at a good rate and playing a lot more positively than I have in the past.

"I've caught a bit of criticism for not stepping up a gear and hopefully I've silenced those critics for a little while.

"With the uneven bounce, which seems to be the story of the day on South African pitches at the moment, if we can get a lead of 200 it will put a lot of pressure on New Zealand."

Andre Nel (right) hugs Mark Boucher after South Africa's last-gasp win

Nel smashed nine off the last three balls to earn victory, having earlier taken 3-46 in the New Zealand innings.

Kyle Mills (5-25) threatened to bowl South Africa out, with AB de Villiers (87) providing the main resistance.

New Zealand had scored 248-6 from their 50 overs after being put in, with Jamie How top scoring with 90.

How made a quiet start to his innings, but hit three fours in an Albie Morkel over to really get going.

Brendon McCullum and Scott Styris both made 40 to help How build a decent total, but the South Africans bowled impressively in Durban.

606: DEBATE NZ are a very good ODI team and i expect them to take SA to the wire bobstyles007

Shaun Pollock was in his best miserly mood with 0-21 from his 10 overs, while Nel came back strongly at the end to finish up with three wickets.

Mills cleaned up Morne van Wyk from the fourth ball of the South Africa reply and then had Jacques Kallis caught by Ross Taylor for one as the Proteas wobbled on 9-2.

But Graeme Smith (44) and De Villiers steadied the ship by putting on 91 and when Smith was out JP Duminy (46) carried on where the captain left off.

When those two were out Mills came back to get rid of Pollock, Morkel and Johan Botha and the hosts needed 11 runs off the last over to win it.

Mark Boucher (35 not out) left it up to Nel - who was dropped by Styris from the second ball - and he clubbed two stunning fours before clinching it with a single.