Pretoria – Despite the opposition finding out their battle-plan, South Africa delivered a top bowling performance to beat New Zealand by 20 runs in the first One Day International at SuperSport Park, in Centurion, on Wednesday.
Set 305 for victory, the visitors could only manage 284 all out 48.1 overs in their reply after starting out their chase in fine fashion.
In South Africa’s innings, Hashim Amla scored 124 as he led the Proteas to 304 for seven in their 50 overs.
The big news coming into the match was the leaked bowling strategies of Proteas spearhead Dale Steyn to the New Zealand batsmen. A hotel guest where the Proteas were staying in Melrose Arch was mistakenly handed the strategies for Steyn printed on a piece of paper under her door and took to social media to post a photo of the document which then went viral.
With the knowledge of Steyn’s strategies, New Zealand were still helpless facing a rampaging Steyn in the first over their innings. First Tom Latham was dropped first ball of the innings from Steyn as he whipped the ball straight to Farhaan Behardien at midwicket, but the player could not hold on to the catch.
With his fourth ball, Steyn found the edge of Luke Ronchi but he too was dropped, this time by debutant David Wiese at second slip.
Steyn finally struck with his third attempt as Ronchi (1) edged again to Amla at first slip who took the catch – though replays suggested the ball may not have carried.
From that point Latham (60, 80 balls, 4×4, 1×6) and Kiwi captain Kane Williamson (47, 69 balls, 4×4, 1×6) resurrected their run-chase with a second-wicket stand of 104 from 132 balls. Imran Tahir provided the breakthrough as the attacking Williamson came down the pitch, but could only succeed in hitting it to substitute fielder Dean Elgar at cover.
The visitors were still in a strong position at 148 for two, but in the space of 11 balls were reduced to 158 for five after 29.5 overs.
Wiese first struck with the scalp of Martin Guptil for 25, setting up Vernon Philander who removed both Grant Elliot (6) and Latham in quick succession to leave the tourists reeling.
Tahir ended with the best figures for the Proteas with 2/40 from his 10 overs. Steyn returned 2/50 from nine overs.
In the Proteas’ innings, Amla (124 runs, 126 balls, 13×4, 3×6) reached his 21st ODI century during the innings, and was ably supported by Rilee Rossouw who made 89 from 112 balls with six fours and three sixes. Together the pair put on a record second-wicket partnership against New Zealand in ODIs of 185 runs from 203 balls.
Rossouw was uncharacteristically slow in his scoring, being well out-paced by Amla at the other end. The aggressive left-hander had struggled to find his timing, but to his credit he ground out an impressive knock.
The Kiwis pulled the score back in the latter overs by picking up both Amla and Rossouw, and then AB de Villiers for nine.
African News Agency