Cape Town, April 27:

Stephen Fleming scored an unbeaten 114 for New Zealand to reach 265-5 at stumps on Thursday on the first day of the second Test against South Africa. The Black Caps captain hit 16 fours in his ninth Test century, and was involved in a 106-run stand with Nathan Astle for the fourth wicket.

Fleming also added 49 with Jacob Oram for the fifth wicket with New Zealand trailing 1-0 in the three-Test series. Undefeated at stumps with Fleming was Daniel Vettori on 1.

South Africa captain Graeme Smith won the toss and elected to field at Newlands Stadium. The Kiwis’ opening stand of 50 was broken when Michael Papps (22) left a ball from Andre Nel that uprooted his off stump.

Twelve runs later, Peter Fulton on 36 edged a delivery from Dale Steyn for wicketkeeper Mark Boucher to take a good catch diving to his left. Makhaya Ntini then gave Scott Styris a real working over with a barrage of short-pitched bowling. After striking him on the helmet — and conceding some runs as Styris attempted to fight back with

some aggressive hitting — Ntini induced the edge and had him caught by Boeta Dippenaar at slip for 11.

Astle was trapped lbw by Ntini for 50 soon after tea, with New Zealand 188-4 after having been 82-3. Oram was run out for 13 when Fleming called for a sharp single, and Brendon McCallum was soon out lbw to Ntini for 5. Ntini was the most successful of the South African bowlers with 3-65.

SCOREBOARD

NEW ZEALAND — 1st Innings

M Papps b Nel 22

P Fulton c Boucher b Steyn 36

S Fleming not out 114

S Styris c Dippenaar b Ntini 11

N Astle lbw b Ntini 50

J Oram run out 13

B McCullum lbw b Ntini 5

D Vettori not out 1

Extras: 13 (1b, 5lb, 1w, 6nb)

Total: 265/6

FoW: 1-50, 2-62, 3-82, 4-188, 5-237, 6-259

South Africa bowling: Ntini 17-2-65-3, Steyn 13-3-37-1, Nel 17-3-56-1, Kallis 8-2-26-0, Boje 14-3-49-0, Smith 9-2-26-0