Proteas rout Black Caps in Wellington

Proteas skipper AB de Villiers top-scored with 85 on Saturday, to lead the side to victory over New Zealand and become the fastest batsmen to reach 9000 runs. Photo: Mike Hutchings/Reuters

Proteas skipper AB de Villiers top-scored with 85 on Saturday, to lead the side to victory over New Zealand and become the fastest batsmen to reach 9000 runs. Photo: Mike Hutchings/Reuters

Published Feb 25, 2017

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South Africa: 271/8 (De Villiers 85, De Kock 68, Parnell 35, De Grandhomme 2/40)

New Zealand: 112 (De Grandhomme 34*, Pretorius 3/5, Phehlukwayo 2/12, Parnell 2/33)

South Africa win by 159 runs, lead series 2-1

Earlier on this New Zealand tour Proteas batting consultant Neil McKenzie stated South Africa were still searching for “the perfect game”. On Saturday at the Westpac Stadium in Wellington the tourists delivered.

After an indifferent outing in the second ODI in Christchurch earlier in the week when the Proteas’ surrendered their unbeaten streak, AB de Villiers’s side responded immediately with a clinical performance to take a 2-1 lead with two matches to play.

A lot of the talk after the Hagley Oval defeat was about senior players taking “responsibility” and captain AB de Villiers led the way. The ODI skipper showed plenty of restraint during his 80-ball innings on a tricky Westpac pitch.

With seam movement on offer throughout the match, De Villiers constructed a solid 85 (7x4, 1x6) to ensure the Proteas would post a decent total. De Villiers went 9 000 ODI runs in the process.

South Africa had lost their way a bit after Quinton de Kock (68) has struck yet another half-century while adding 73 for the second wicket with Faf du Plessis (36).

But with JP Duminy running himself out, followed shortly afterwards by David Miller and Dwaine Pretorius there was every chance South Africa’s innings could disintegrate.

However, De Villiers found an able partner in Wayne Parnell. The all-rounder has immense batting potential, typified by his exploits for the Cape Cobras on the domestic circuit, but has not translated it regularly to the international scene.

Inspired by his fellow all-rounders’ performances thus far on tour with a shoot-out fast developing between the quartet, Parnell showed good judgement during his 32-ball 35 (2x4, 1x6).

He provided the support De Villiers required as the pair added 84 runs off just 64 deliveries for the seventh wicket.

Parnell took the momentum gained from his batting into his bowling efforts and was right on the money from the outset. He created early pressure with the new ball before striking when Black Caps opener Tom Latham hit a sweetly-timed square drive, but unfortunately for the left-hander, who is enduring a horrible run of form, straight to Duminy at point.

With spearhead Kagiso Rabada back in the line-up for Chris Morris, that was the only opening the impressive Proteas bowling unit required.

There was no let up of the pressure after Latham’s dismissal, with the only blemish being Hashim Amla’s dropped catch at slip. New Zealand captain Kane Williamson was the benefactor and Parnell the unlucky bowler.

However, even that missed chance did not cost South Africa a great deal on the night with Andile Phehlukwayo clean bowling the Black Caps skipper for just 23 shortly afterwards.

All resistance crumbled after that as South Africa’s battery of seamers exploited the conditions perfectly. Pretorius was once again the chief-destroyer, bowling wicket-to-wicket, to maintain the pressure on the Kiwi middle-order.

He rightfully closed the game by picking up the last Black Caps wicket to fall to finish with the incredible figures of 3/5 in 5.2 overs.

Pretorius was well supported by Rabada (2/39), Parnell (2/33) and Phehlukwayo (2/12) with leg-spinner Imran Tahir also chipping in with one wicket.

Independent Media

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