South Africa trounced New Zealand by six wickets yesterday led by a Morne Morkel five-wicket haul and 92 runs from Hashim Amla, sealing victory in their one-day series with a game to spare.
The victory at McLean Park in Napier put South Africa an unassailable 2-0 up in the one-day internationals (ODI) and after taking the earlier Twenty20 series 2-1, they hold a commanding psychological advantage over New Zealand ahead of the looming Tests.
New Zealand were sent into bat and at 131 for one were heading for a competitive 300-plus total before a spectacular batting collapse saw them all out for 230 in the 48th over.
Photo: AFP
Morkel, who had none for 33 off his first seven overs, produced a devastating late spell, taking five wickets for five runs in 15 balls to wrap up the innings with a man-of-the-match performance.
He twice found himself on the verge of claiming a hat-trick as New Zealand squandered a strong start on a wicket tailor-made for batting.
South Africa’s batsmen made the best of the conditions, quickly reaching better than six an over as they cruised to 231 for four in the 39th over.
Photo: AFP
Amla, who opened the innings with Jacques Kallis, faced 107 balls for his 92, which included 12 boundaries as he guided South Africa to victory. He was given a life on 58 when he skied leg-spinner Tarun Nethula only for Rob Nicol to spill a regulation catch, but Nethula was to get his revenge when later he caught the edge of Amla’s bat for Brendon McCullum to make no mistake.
Nethula’s efforts were also rewarded with the caught and bowled dismissal of JP Duminy, but the wickets were mere blips as South Africa charged to victory.
Faf du Plessis cracked 34 off 24 balls before falling to an exceptional catch by Martin Guptill who flicked the ball in the air as he began to fall over the boundary and then stepped back into the field to complete the catch. Captain AB de Villiers, backing up from a century in the first ODI, led his side through to the end to be unbeaten on 31 with Justin Ontong not out 17.
New Zealand made a handy start to their innings, recovering from the early loss of Nicol with a 107-run stand between Guptill and McCullum.
When Guptill departed for 58 and McCullum was joined by Kane Williamson, the New Zealand skipper called for an early batting power play, which dramatically backfired.
Over the next five overs, New Zealand added just 20 runs and lost the wickets of Williamson (13), McCullum (85) and Jesse Ryder (zero).
Morkel then joined the attack and dismissed James Franklin (six) and Kyle Mills (zero) in successive balls.
Tim Southee staged a minor revival, contributing 28 before Morkel was again on a hat-trick, removing Southee and Nethula in two balls and he finished off the innings with the wicket of Ellis (19) for figures of five for 38.
Lonwabo Tsotsobe, who claimed the scalps of Nicol (11), Williamson and McCullum took three for 43 from his 10 overs.
The final ODI is in Auckland on Saturday, with the first of three Tests starting in Dunedin on Wednesday.
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