Weather looks good. Rain Sunday too ... may put a kink in the match.

1st Test - New Zealand v South Africa - Day 1

Wed Mar 8 - Sun Mar 12 11:00 local (22:00 GMT -1d)
1st Test - New Zealand v South Africa University Oval, Dunedin LIVE



Livescorecard
http://www.espncricinfo.com/new-zealand ... 20041.html

SA win the Toss and decide to bat



3-Game Series

_________________
Do not go gentle into that good night.
___________ Rage, rage against the dying of the light

What a gorgeous park! The pitch looks good too, lol.

Noticed Latham in the lineup.
Going to be positive about him, maybe he's at a turning point.

I'm excited about this match. And I can watch on the ESPN page .. perfect streaming.

Glad you have a good seat Molly

There are a few ppl that get on my tits in NZ side... so I'll be rooting for SA

_________________
Do not go gentle into that good night.
___________ Rage, rage against the dying of the light

I am fed up with "spin" being employed at start of test matches.. and pitches that apparently suit that.

It's OK as an occasional tactic.. with the odd pitch suiting it, but it seems to have become the norm lately.

I would like to see the world class SA batsmen hit this early spin out of the attack.

A "good test pitch" traditionally favors fast/seam bowling early on.. for an hour plus at the very least. A new hard ball, fresh bowlers etc means an early onslaught of fast bowling.. that it takes a good opening batsman to survive.

_________________
Do not go gentle into that good night.
___________ Rage, rage against the dying of the light

WICKET

SC Cook lbw b Boult 3 (29b 0x4 0x6) SR: 10.34

SA 10/1 (8.5 ov)

WICKET

HM Amla b Wagner 1 (28b 0x4 0x6) SR: 3.57

South Africa 20/2 (18.2 ov)

ETA
And another WICKET

JP Duminy c Taylor b Wagner 1 (2b 0x4 0x6) SR: 50.00

South Africa 22/3 (19.0 ov)

LUNCH - Day 1

South Africa 63/3 (31.0 ov)

_________________
Do not go gentle into that good night.
___________ Rage, rage against the dying of the light

I'd like to note that NZ did grand bowling in the first session with hitting the 31 ov mark.

That along with the three wickets.

IMO, South Africa is batting well. This current partnership has found some boundaries.

WICKET

F du Plessis c Boult b Neesham 52 (118b 7x4 0x6) SR: 44.06

South Africa 152/4 (59.0 ov)

Tea Break - Day 1

South Africa 153/4 (62.0 ov)

_________________
Do not go gentle into that good night.
___________ Rage, rage against the dying of the light

CENTURY - Elgar

South Africa 163/4 (65.0 ov)

_________________
Do not go gentle into that good night.
___________ Rage, rage against the dying of the light

Now I remember where I've seen this before.
You put it on Gab once and I was too embarrassed to ask who he is.

SA is stuck on 199 for the next hour.

ETA
Triple maidens.

It's a "Centurian"... no name

_________________
Do not go gentle into that good night.
___________ Rage, rage against the dying of the light

NEW BALL




South Africa 211/4 (81.0 ov)

_________________
Do not go gentle into that good night.
___________ Rage, rage against the dying of the light

I was just going to post THAT (without photo)

New Ball = Wickets .. fingers & eyes crossed.

Prayin' ain't working.

We do not want wickets where I am.. we want 6's

_________________
Do not go gentle into that good night.
___________ Rage, rage against the dying of the light

The 42 overs that NZ spinners have bowled today are the most on the opening day of any Test at home since 2006.

There ya go, Rumpole.

STUMPS - Day 1

South Africa 229/4 (90.0 ov)




I know we are all hoping that RAIN does not disrupt play (some forecast for day 4 and 5).

I have no first-hand experience of Dunedin... but it is way down South.. and my memories of watching sport on TV include rain.

Wet rugby games and cricket matches abandoned.

Watching today's cricket coverage...you might notice "The Glass House" (Rugby stadium) nearby. They did not go to all the trouble of providing NZ's only COVERED venue (for rugby) for no reason

_________________
Do not go gentle into that good night.
___________ Rage, rage against the dying of the light

SA have recovered from an early "mini collapse". The pitch looks good to bat on. This now looks like a typical test. I expect a first innings score 300+... maybe more than that?
As always... hard to predict how the test will likely go until we see NZ have a turn at batting.

_________________
Do not go gentle into that good night.
___________ Rage, rage against the dying of the light