South Africa v New Zealand

Taking first knock on a batsman's wicket, the story of this match had the inevitable prologue -- for New Zealand who won the toss.

Pollock was restored to the attack, being preferred to Heine on his home ground. Sparling replaced Chapple and opened the innings with Dowling, only for both players to fail dismally.

Then came Barton, composed, correct and polished, firstly in a stand of 62 with his captain, whose six boundaries in 26 runs whetted the appetite of the connoisseur; thence along the path to a cultured 109 in just over four and a half hours. He reached his maiden Test hundred with his nineteenth boundary despite the handicap of a recently dislocated shoulder.

Two more wickets fell quickly and it was left to Dick to keep an end intact in a sixth-wicket stand of 65 of which Barton's share was 53. Useful contributions from Bartlett and Alabaster took the total to 275 which looked a good score on this ground.

The luckless McGlew suffered another injury, dislocating a shoulder when fielding and Lawrence was promoted to open the innings. The tall Rhodesian looked the best batsman in the side and in an invaluable stay of two hours and twenty minutes made top score.

By way of consolation, McGlew, at number nine, and Bromfield established a tenth-wicket record of 47 and Alabaster captured his hundredth wicket of the tour.

When New Zealand attempted to consolidate their lead of 85, only Dowling and Reid managed to withstand the Springbok's pace attack; the remainder contributed a paltry 69 runs.

South Africa faced the fourth innings wanting 314 to win. Barlow and Farrer wiped off 38 before stumps, leaving 276 for victory in a full six hours. Cameron struck the first blow and thereafter Reid and Alabaster sent down almost 100 overs to dispose of the opposition gradually until the eighth wicket fell with 114 runs still required.

Then came a stubborn ninth-wicket stand by Pollock and Adcock, both of whom made their highest Test scores. Motz was recalled with the new ball and he and Cameron, both of whom rendered yeoman service during the tour, deservedly took the last two wickets and saw New Zealand home. So they levelled the series.

Reid was the principal architect in New Zealand's second victory abroad. He bowled with unerring skill and subtlety as can be gathered from a glance at his analysis, and his all-round contribution of six wickets and 95 runs provided the most appropriate ending to a memorable tour.