S Africa beat New Zealand

South Africa on Sunday beat New Zealand by four wickets in a one day international match played here.

Set a winning target of 208 by New Zealand, the South Africans scored 210 for the loss of six wickets in 34 overs.

Sunday’s ODI win was South Africa’s twelfth on the trot and was achieved with one ball to spare.

Skipper AB de Villiers, unbeaten on 34, and Andile Phehlukwayo who struck crucial sixes in the penultimate and last over of the match, helped the visitors canter to victory.

Earlier, lusty late slogging by Colin de Grandhomme and Tim Southee gave New Zealand a much-needed boost in the rain-shortened game. In a match reduced to 34 overs a side, the pair put on 51 off 23 deliveries as New Zealand posted 207 for seven. They were particularly harsh on Chris Morris, smacking the all-rounder for 25 in the final over of the innings.

Brief scores : New Zealand 207 for 7 (Williamson 59, Morris 4 for 62) lost to South Africa 210 for 6 (de Kock 69, de Villiers 37*, Santner 1-33, Sodhi 1-36)