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Boult strikes twice to put South Africa under pressure

By AFP
South Africa South Africa's Hashim Amla bats in the first Test against New Zealand at the Sahara Cricket stadium in Durban on August 19, 2016.  By Gianluigi Guercia AFP
AUG 19, 2016 LISTEN
South Africa's Hashim Amla bats in the first Test against New Zealand at the Sahara Cricket stadium in Durban on August 19, 2016. By Gianluigi Guercia (AFP)

Durban (South Africa) (AFP) - Trent Boult took two key wickets as New Zealand's bowlers kept the South African batsmen under pressure on the first day of the first Test at Kingsmead on Friday.

South Africa were 146 for four at tea after deciding to bat in overcast conditions, with the floodlights on for most of the day.

Left-armer Boult made New Zealand's first breakthrough, having Stephen Cook caught behind for 20 during a superb opening spell of one for eight in eight overs.

He came back after lunch to end a fine innings of 53 by Hashim Amla. Boult's figures at tea were two for 18 off 13 overs.

Boult gained some movement both ways on a slow but well-grassed pitch. Cook got a faint edge to a ball which straightened off the surface after several other deliveries had swung in to the right-hander.

Amla, by contrast, was caught behind off an inside edge when a ball swung in to him.

Doug Bracewell and Neil Wagner were New Zealand's other wicket-takers. Bracewell had Dean Elgar caught at second slip for 19, while Wagner dismissed JP Duminy, caught at fine leg off a top-edged pull shot.

Seamer Bracewell replaced leg-spinner Ish Sodhi in the only change from the New Zealand team that won two Test matches against Zimbabwe in Bulawayo recently.

Faf du Plessis, standing in as captain for the injured AB de Villiers, batted doggedly to be 18 not out at tea, scored off 74 balls, while Temba Bavuma was unbeaten on 22.

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