Soggy end to a damp squib
The first Test between South Africa and New Zealand ended in a damp draw yesterday without a ball bowled over the final three-and-a-half days due to a sodden Kingsmead.Only 100 overs were possible in the match, with New Zealand frozen on 15/2 in their first innings after the players left the field before lunch on the second day.The tourists were replying to South Africa's first innings total of 263 on a difficult batting surface in what was the first winter Test to be played in Durban.Captain Faf du Plessis backed the decision to call off play: "There were a few areas that were muddy and loose underfoot, so the umpires were worried that if you had to make a sudden movement or sprint, you could get badly injured."If one of your fast bowlers runs around the boundary and gets injured, you'd be pretty upset."New Zealand coach Mike Hesson also felt it was the right decision.The second and final Test starts in Centurion on Saturday...
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