SOUTH AFRICA v NEW ZEALAND 1953-54

At Port Elizabeth, February 5, 6, 8, 9. South Africa won by five wickets. New Zealand, winning the toss, failed to take advantage of perfect batting conditions on the first day, and threw away a good opportunity of at last winning a Test Match. Little praise could be accorded to the batting, which lacked enterprise, but South Africa by keen bowling and fielding earned credit for keeping down runs. Despite the slow pitch, Adcock and Watkins bowled effectively, and they broke the back of the New Zealand innings when they took the second new ball and three wickets fell for the addition of five runs.

Next day Reid and MacGibbon, the New Zealand pace bowlers, hit back, and with Bell bowling leg-breaks steadily the South African batsmen were also kept quiet, only Endean and van Ryneveld scoring at all readily. New Zealand needed runs quickly in the second innings if they were to force a victory, but though Sutcliffe and Reid attacked the bowling they received little support.

In the end South Africa were left to make 212 in three and three-quarter hours, a task which they achieved with forty minutes to spare. Endean and Watkins, both hitting freely, ensured success by adding 107 in seventy minutes for the fourth wicket.