Mills takes three as South Africa stumble

CENTURION, South Africa, Apr 15 (Reuters) Kyle Mills took three wickets to rock South Africa on the first day of the first test against New Zealand today.

Medium pacer Mills looked innocuous but he proved dangerous, taking three for 26 as South Africa, who won the toss and chose to bat, stumbled to 153 for four at tea.

Jacques Kallis was 21 not out with AB de Villiers on seven.

Play was held up when Kallis took pills and received an injection to counter the effects of lingering tendonitis in his elbow.

Mills first struck in the fifth over when Herschelle Gibbs, who scored six, played an insipid stroke to an inswinger and edged the ball onto his middle stump.

Graeme Smith, who returned to action after missing the third test against Australia with a finger injury, and Boeta Dippenaar scored steadily and took South Africa to lunch without further drama.

In the third over after lunch left-arm paceman James Franklin trapped Smith in front for 45 to end the second-wicket stand at 79.

Six overs later Dippenaar reached 52 not out with a straight drive for four off Mills.

Dippenaar attempted to hook Mills' next ball, a shorter delivery, and spooned a catch to James Fulton at short midwicket.

Mills reduced South Africa to 130 for four in the 11th over before tea when Ashwell Prince steered a head-high catch to Scott Styris at second slip to be dismissed for nine.

New Zealand bowled with discipline on a pitch that offered steepling bounce at times but little in the way of significant movement off the seam.

Part-time medium pacer Nathan Astle conceded just 11 runs from five overs.

Stephen Fleming became the first New Zealander to reach 100 test caps, while Kallis and Shaun Pollock joined the retired Gary Kirsten as the only South Africans to reach the milestone.

REUTERS DH HS1915