Proteas win a thriller in Hamilton

Quinton de Kock scored 69 in the first ODI against New Zealand at Seddon Park on Sunday to earn the Man of the Match award. Photo: Andrew Cornaga/www.photosport.nz

Quinton de Kock scored 69 in the first ODI against New Zealand at Seddon Park on Sunday to earn the Man of the Match award. Photo: Andrew Cornaga/www.photosport.nz

Published Feb 19, 2017

Share

First ODI

New Zealand: 207/7 (34/34 ov)

South Africa: 210/6 (33.5/34 ov)

South Africa won by 4 wickets (with 1 ball remaining)

CAPE TOWN - AB de Villiers and Andile Phehlukwayo shared an unbroken 54-run partnership for the seventh wicket to propel South Africa to a thrilling four-wicket victory in the first ODI against New Zealand at Seddon Park on Sunday.

The victory equalled the Proteas’ record of 12 consecutive ODI victories.

South Africa required 12 runs off Tim Southee’s final over and inched over the line with one ball remaining. De Villiers and Phehlukwayo ran two byes, which included a Southee wide, before the latter smashed a massive six over long-on to get his team closer to the target.

The young KwaZulu-Natalian showed great temperament to hold his nerve in a pressure-filled situation. This set up De Villiers to finish off the game off the penultimate delivery with a straight hit for four.

South Africa had earlier seemed assured of victory with Hashim Amla (35) and Quinton de Kock sharing an 88-run partnership for the first wicket. De Kock moved on to yet another half-century after Amla’s dismissal, but the introduction of leg-spinner Ish Sodhi changed the course of the game.

Sodhi trapped Faf du Plessis lbw for 14 which precipitated a South African middle-order collapse that saw the visitors lose four wickets for nine runs.

Southee was the chief-destroyer as he dismissed JP Duminy for one and Farhaan Berhardien for a duck. Trent Boult also picked the big wicket of De Kock for 69 during this period before Mitchell Satner chipped in with Chris Morris’s wicket.

Fortunately for the Proteas, Phehlukwayo was able to stay with his skipper until the end for South Africa to take a 1-0 lead in the five-match series.

Earlier, South Africa had rocked the home side through some brilliant new-ball bowling by Morris (4/62). Morris picked up the first four Kiwi wickets to fall before the home team’s skipper Kane Williamson began the recovery with a 53-ball 59.

The Kiwis kept fighting until the end though with Southee (24 not out off 13 balls) and Colin de Grandhomme (34 not off 19 balls) helped the Black Caps to a competitive total.

Ultimately though it not enough for the home side to deny the Proteas extending their winning streak.

Independent Media

Related Topics: