Dunedin, Mar 7:New Zealand seized control of the first Test against South Africa yesterday thanks to a stunning spell of three wickets in four balls from paceman Chris Martin.
 The Proteas ended the day on 191 for seven, with Jacques Rudolph (46) the only recognized batsman left after skipper Graeme Smith and Hashim Amla scored half-centuries, but the rest of the lineup failed to fire.
 South Africa trounced New Zealand in the limited overs series and the Test looked to be heading the same way before, Martin triggered a collapse that saw six wickets fall in the final session of a rain-shortened day in Dunedin.
 With almost four hours of play lost to the weather, New Zealand captain Ross Taylor looked to have made the wrong call sending South Africa into bat after winning the toss, as the Black Caps’ attack struggled in the first session.
 South Africa were 86 for one at tea, with Smith notching his 31st Test 50 and Amla looking settled on a flat, lifeless pitch that yielded only one wicket, Alviro Petersen (11), for New Zealand’s bowlers.
 However, Taylor’s gamble paid off spectacularly when the clouds cleared and Martin dismissed Smith for 53 in the first over after the break, the batsman driving the ball to debutant Rob Nicol at cover as he attempted a boundary.
 Martin struck again in his next over, dismissing Jacques Kallis for a duck when the batsman nicked the ball to Taylor at first slip.
 A.B. de Villiers became scalp No. 3 in the next ball, trapped LBW for a golden duck when the delivery nipped back sharply, skidding past the bat and crashing into the batsman’s pads.
 Amla kept his cool to steady South Africa, grafting out a valuable 66-run partnership with Rudolph to post his 22nd Test 50.
 Mark Boucher (4) faced only two balls before being run out when Rudolph, on strike, took off for a single, only for Bracewell to fire the ball back from the field to South African-born ’keeper Kruger van Wyk, who broke the stumps.
 The Proteas will hope Rudolph can combine with the tailenders to post a competitive total to keep alive their dream of a clean sweep in the three-match series, which would see them take top spot in the International Cricket Council world Test rankings.

SCORECARD DAY 1:
SOUTH AFRICA: 191/ 7 (Amla 62, Smith 53,
Chris Martin 3-34)

Lastupdate on : Wed, 7 Mar 2012 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Wed, 7 Mar 2012 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Thu, 8 Mar 2012 00:00:00 IST