(Cricket news) The hosts New Zealand ended the first day of the Hamilton test on a high, scalping 6 Proteas wickets and reducing the visitors to 220/6 at the end of the days play. Rachin Ravindra the left-arm spinner struck thrice to put South Africa in trouble.

Opting to bat, the inexperienced Proteas line-up had a shaky start loosing their opener Fortuin in the very second over of the first session. Skipper Neil Brand tried to pull back things for the visitors but it did not last long as the debutant ORourke got better of him reducing them 40/2.

South Africa further suffered a mini collapse and were in deep trouble loosing half of their side for just 101 runs. Ruan de Swardt then joined hands with Bedingham and built a 49-run partnership before the latter was dismissed by Ravindra, handing him his third scalp of the day.

It was then a fighting half-century from Ruan de Swardt that revived South Africa on the opening day. He along with Von Berg batted through the day for the visitors and together scored an unbeaten 70 runs to bail their team out of trouble.

Rachin Ravindra was the pick of the bowlers for the kiwis, taking three crucial. Despite South Africa’s fight back later in the day, New Zealand would still be happy with how the day panned out. The hosts will certainly look to clean up the Proteas innings as early as possible on the second day

SCORES : Brief scores: South Africa 220/6 (Ruan de Swardt 55*, David Bedingham 39; Rachin Ravindra 3/33); STUMPS DAY 1

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