Top Taylor ton sets up NZ win
Ross Taylor’s record-breaking ton and magic from million-dollar man Trent Boult pulled New Zealand back into the one-day international cricket 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 at Christchurch’s Hagley Oval, levelling the best-of-five series at 1-1.
Taylor hit 102 not out, his 17th ODI century, which moved him into outright first after being level on 16 with former all-rounder Nathan Astle.
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 as they looked poised to steal a dramatic comeback win, putting on 61 for the ninth wicket.
Pretorius blasted 50 from 26 balls but 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. South Africa were attempting to win a record 13th consecutive match, which would have put them second all-time behind the 2003 Australian side. D Brownlie lbw b Pretorius ......................... 34 T Latham c Phehlukwayo b Parnell ....... 2 K Williamson c Phehlukwayo b Tahir 69 R Taylor not out .................................................. 102 N Broom c Duminy b Pretorius .................. 2 J Neesham not out .............................................. 71 Extras (2lb, 7w) .......................................................... 9 Total (for 4 wkts, 50 overs) ..................... 289 Fall: 13 (Latham), 53 (Brownlie), 157 (Williamson), 166 (Broom). Bowling: C Morris 10-0-58-0 (2w), W Parnell 8-0-49-1 (2w), D Pretorius 10-0-40-2 (1w), I Tahir 10-0-61-1 (2w), A Phehlukwayo 9-0-62-0, J Duminy 3-0-17-0.
H Amla lbw b Southee .................................... 10 Q de Kock c Neesham b Boult ................. 57 F du Plessis b de Grandhomme ............... 11 JP Duminy st Latham b Santner ............ 34 AB de Villiers c Latham b Boult ............... 45 D Miller c Latham b Sodhi ............................ 28 D Pretorius b Boult ............................................ 50 C Morris run out ....................................................... 7 W Parnell lbw b Santner .................................. 0 A Phehlukwayo not out ................................. 29 I Tahir not out ............................................................ 0 Extras (5lb, 7w) ........................................................ 12 Total (for 9 wkts, 50 overs) ...................... 283 Fall: 22 (Amla), 51 (du Plessis), 108 (Duminy), 124 (de Kock), 192 (Miller), 199 (de Villiers), 214 (Morris), 214 (Parnell), 275 (Pretorius). Bowling: T Southee 10-0-60-1 (1w), T Boult 10-0-63-3 (3w), J Neesham 3-0-20-0 (1w), C de Grandhomme 4-1-10-1, K Williamson 3-0-16-0, I Sodhi 10-0-63-1 (2w), M Santner 10-0-46-2.
New Zealand win by six runs. Five-match series level at 1-1.
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.
Earlier, 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 one-day international 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 one-dayer for South Africa, was impressive in 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.
Williamson and Taylor consolidated after opener Dean Brownlie went for 32, putting on 104 for the third wicket.
The partnership was looking threatening with New Zealand targeting a score well over 300, until legspinner Imran Tahir captured the key wicket of Williamson for 69.
Tahir tossed the ball up and Williamson mistimed his shot straight to Phehlukwayo at long on, ending the 104-run second wicket stand.
Williamson went at a crucial time after New Zealand’s best two batsmen had frustrated the South African attack and built a stable platform.
Result: NEW ZEALAND SOUTH AFRICA