IT’S THE BLACK COLLAPSE
c Boucher b Philander 0. runs in a scarcely believable 20 deliveries from Dale Steyn (3-49) and Vernon Philander (4-70).
That takes some doing. Just twice before had a test side lost five wickets without adding to their total. Both times the victims were wearing black caps; against Australia in Wellington in 1945-46, and Pakistan in Rawalpindi in 1964-65.
Pakistan’s quicks have usually provided the nightmares in Hamilton. There was the memorable 10-74 collapse against Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis in 1993; then last January, New Zealand lost 8-50 before a 10-wicket defeat.
This time the architects were Steyn, the world’s top-ranked bowler who awoke from his series slumber, and Philander, whose runaway train of a six-test career now boasts 39 wickets at 14.56.
There was no hint of the carnage to follow. Brendon Mccullum (61) and Ross Taylor (44) were in, and untroubled. Having added an unbroken 82 before the Dunedin rain intervened, they put on 89 for the third wicket in a mature, confident display. Then, as in the first innings in Dunedin, both departed, needlessly, as a world-class pace attack bared its teeth after a two-hour rain break.
Mccullum saw the trap being set. Bouncers from Morne Morkel and Steyn, deep square leg pushed back. He resisted, then took them on. He hooked Morkel for six to raise his half-century, then tried again off Steyn. This short one was quicker, and he picked out the boundary rider perfectly.
Next over from Philander, and Taylor tried to cut one that was too close. Both senior pros removed, two new batsmen in, and the South African quicks sensed blood. The slide was on, in spectacular fashion.
Kane Williamson gloved a snorter from Steyn, Daniel Vettori was beaten for pace by Philander, who added reverse swing to his range of armoury. When Doug Bracewell nicked out, it was suddenly 133-7. Mark Gillespie, in his first test since December 2008, whacked an eventful 27 off 20 balls. He produced a no-look hook for six off Philander, was cracked painfully on the forearm by a 144kmh thunderbolt from Steyn, then deposited Imran Tahir over the fence.
The final eight wickets fell for 52; the innings finished in 61.2 overs.
Early wickets were vital in the setting sun, and the go-to man Martin provided. A Smith inside edge was snapped up by a Kruger van Wyk to his right, a memorable first test dismissal. Nightwatchman Steyn then prodded forward and van Wyk pouched an easier offering.
Earlier, New Zealand sprung a surprise in the pace bowling ranks by dropping Trent Boult and recalling Brent Arnel and Gillespie. It seemed harsh on Boult, who’d made a solid start to his four-test career. Arnel seemed Tim Southee’s likely replacement anyway, and the prospect of a sluggish pitch might have hastened Gillespie’s promotion.