De Villiers gets South Africa home with a ball to spare

HAMILTON: A polished Quinton de Kock half century laid the foundation for South Africa’s four wicket win over New Zealand in a tense finish to a rain-shortened opening one-day international in here on Sunday.

In a clash that went down to the wire, the departure of de Kock for 69 sparked a middle order collapse before an AB de Villiers rescue mission saw his side home with a ball to spare.

With the fixture reduced to 34 overs a side following heavy rain early in the day, New Zealand posted 207 for seven, boosted by a whirlwind 51 off 23 balls at the end by unbeaten pair Colin de Grandhomme and Tim Southee.

South Africa went into the final over of their reply requiring 12 to win, and de Villiers ended the game with a four off the fifth ball of Tim Southee’s over. With man-of-the-match de Kock in sublime form, assisted by Hashim Amla, South Africa started their run chase strongly with an 88-run stand. New Zealand captain Kane Williamson used five bowling changes in the first 15 overs in an attempt to break up the pair but only succeeded

With the fixture reduced to 34 overs a side following heavy rain, New Zealand posted 207/7. Later, AB de Villiers guided South Africa to a tense four-wicket victory in the final over

when he put himself, a parttime spinner, on and had Amla caught and bowled for 35.

Faf du Plessis (14) joined de Kock to get the score to 117 when the South African innings suffered a collapse with five wickets falling in the space of 39 runs.

Trent Boult had de Kock caught in a sharp piece of fielding by Ross Taylor at short midwicket and Tim Southee removed JP Duminy and Farhaan Behardein with consecutive deliveries. Chris Morris survived the hat-trick ball and made 16 before his dismissal had South Africa at 156-6 with 44 balls remaining. De Villiers with 37 off 34 balls and Andile Phehulkwayo (29 off 23) combined efforts to get the tourists home.

De Grandhomme and Southee’s whirlwind partnership gave the New Zealand innings a respectable look after they too suffered a middle order collapse.