Debutant wicketkeeper Kruger van Wyk and former captain Daniel Vettori staged a middle order fightback to help New Zealand establish a slim first innings lead at the close of play on the second day of the first Test against South Africa Thursday. The South African-born Van Wyk (36) combined with Vettori (46) in a 53-run partnership and then with bowler Doug Bracewell (25) for 41 runs as the host made 243 for nine in reply to South Africa's 238 on a sun-drenched University Oval here. New Zealand, however, squandered an opportunity to build a substantial advantage when it lost four wickets in the middle session and then two more in one Vernon Philander over just before the close after South Africa took the new ball. Brendon McCullum (48) and captain Ross Taylor (44) had been subjected to a torrid spell of hostile, controlled pace bowling with Taylor hit three times by Morne Morkel, but looked well placed to build a comprehensive partnership before tea. ICC backs T20 expansion International cricket chiefs backed an expansion of the Twenty20 format Wednesday, agreeing three extra matches per major country should be played in years when a world championship is staged. It was also decided at the ICC Chief Executives' Committee meeting in Dubai that the 2014 World Twenty20 should be increased to 16 teams.
