Hamilton, New Zealand, Mar 12: An 84-run seventh-wicket partnership between debutant Brendon McCullum and Jacob Oram helped New Zealand avoid the follow on the third day of the first test against South Africa today.
At close of play New Zealand were 361 for seven in reply to South Africa's first innings score of 459 with Oram, on 49, and Daniel Vettori, who had made 21, at the crease.
After a slow-scoring morning, New Zealand lost three wickets after lunch and went to tea at 234 for six, still 26 runs shy of the follow on mark. But then Oram and McCullum took the match to South Africa's bowlers with some aggressive batting and inventive strokeplay on what was a difficult pitch, especially for left-hander Oram. McCullum dominated the partnership and became the second debutant of the match to reach a half-century after opener Michael Papps.

McCullum reached his half-century by deliberately edging Jacques Kallis to the third-man boundary for four. He hit another glorious boundary through the covers but in the next over the bowler got his revenge.
Oram was given a tough time by left-hand spinner Paul Adams, who was pitching the ball in the rough outside his off-stump at the northern end of the ground -- an area that had been the subject of some controversy.

The morning session was a dire affair and New Zealand scored only 42 runs for the loss of Papps, one of four leg before victims in the home side's innings.
''If they put the ball in the right area, it wasn't easy to score on,'' said McCullum.
''Daniel will be taking plenty of note of that patch,'' McCullum said. ''He'll be looking forward to bowling on that tomorrow, and I'll be looking forward to keeping for him.''


Bureau Report