Black Caps survive late scare
Ross Taylor’s record-breaking ton and magic from million dollar man Trent Boult pulled New Zealand back into the one-day international series against South Africa yesterday.
The Black Caps bounced back from Sunday’s opening four wicket loss, holding on to win a pulsating contest by six runs in front of a near sellout crowd of 7541 at Christchurch’s Hagley Oval, levelling the best of five series at 1-1.
Taylor hit 102 not out, achieving his 17th ODI century, as his unbeaten 123-run fifth wicket partnership with James Neesham, who hit a pivotal 71 not out, got New Zealand up to 289-4, batting first.
Boult, who was purchased for $1.04m by the Kolkata Knight Riders in Monday’s Indian Premier League auction, completed a golden 24 hours, capturing 3-63, including the vital wickets of AB de Villiers and Quinton de Kock.
Dwaine Pretorius and Andile Phehlukwayo gave the Black Caps some brief late jitters. They looked poised to steal a dramatic comeback win, putting on 61 for the ninth wicket.
Pretorius, a noted batsman in South African domestic cricket, blasted 50 from 26 balls. Just when it seemed they would snatch a famous triumph, Boult bowled Pretorius with a full toss in the penultimate over.
South Africa needed 15 off the final over from Tim Southee with the last pair at the wicket and could only muster nine.
New Zealand’s victory ended South Africa’s 12-match ODI winning run dating back to June last year.
Boult turned the match New Zealand’s way, picking up the vital scalp of de Villiers for 45 to leave them in trouble at 199-6 in the 39th over.
His Midas-like touch again did the damage having been reintroduced into the attack. He sent down a slower bouncer, which attracted an edge from de Villiers through to Tom Latham behind the stumps.
Boult looked to have put New Zealand on top when he removed the dangerous de Kock, who scored 69 in the first match in Hamilton.
Batting alongside de Villiers, de Kock recklessly got himself out after doing the hard yards. He charged and picked out Neesham at deep midwicket, which left the Proteas 124-4 and put New Zealand on top.
Earlier, de Villiers and David Miller had South African in a strong position.
Desperate for a breakthrough, legspinner Ish Sodhi ended a menacing 68-run fifth wicket partnership between de Villiers and belligerent left-hander Miller, which threatened to take the match away from New Zealand.
Miller got a small edge onto a googly from Sodhi, which was well gloved by Latham standing up.
Colin de Grandhomme put New Zealand in a strong position in his first over at the crease, rattling Faf du Plessis’ stumps with a full ball that nipped back off the seam.
The experienced JP Duminy and de Kock combined for a pesky third-wicket partnership until leftarm spinner Mitch Santner delivered in his first over.
Santner produced beautiful flight and deceived Duminy with his change of pace. Latham whipped the bails off for the stumping, ending their 57-run stand.
New Zealand looked 30 runs short when they went into the lunch break, setting the Proteas 290 to go 2-0 up in the series.
Taylor brought the large Canterbury crowd to their feet, whacking Wayne Parnell to the cover boundary off the last ball of the innings to finish 102 not out.
Neesham struck a valuable 71 not out from 57 balls, including six fours, his third ODI half-century.
The duo added 89 runs during the final 10 overs, but New Zealand would have wanted more given they were 155-2 at the 30 over point with skipper Kane Williamson and Taylor established.
Taylor hit eight fours in his 110-ball innings. He was held by a sprawling Miller in the deep off the penultimate ball, who chucked the ball back as he fell near the boundary rope.
Right-armer Pretorius, in just his sixth ODI for South Africa, was impressive taking 2-40 from his 10 overs.
New Zealand were in danger of falling away once Williamson and Neil Broom were removed within the space of 13 balls, leaving them 166-4 in the 33rd over.