De Villiers’ hunger leads to thumping win over New Zealand
WELLINGTON: South African hero AB de Villiers admitted to nerves and battling a fear of failure as he produced a record-setting innings that led to a colossal win over New Zealand on Saturday.
Only a “deep, deep hunger to succeed,” helped him overcome his emotions to lead his side to a 159-run win in the third one-day international in Wellington to go 2-1 up in the five-match series.
De Villiers’ 85 off 80 balls pulled South Africa out of a middle-order slump during a match-changing innings in which he became the fastest players to reach 9,000 ODI runs.
South Africa eventually reached 271 for eight in their 50 overs before Dwaine Pretorius and Andile Phehlukwayo led a bowling attack that rolled New Zealand for 112 in 32.2 overs.
“I was nervous walking out especially when we started losing a few wickets. Looking up at the scoreboard I thought ‘oh my word we’re looking at 160-180 if we get bowled out’ which I don’t think would have been enough,” he said.
“There are lots of doubts walking out no matter what your record is.
“But I had a feeling it was going to be important to bat through and to be there at the end.”
As South Africa produced an emphatic response after losing to New Zealand in the second match on Wednesday, New Zealand captain Kane Williamson was left to wonder how his side could be outsmarted in home conditions.
“They certainly deserved the win, they outplayed us,” he said.
“They were able to get a bit of seam movement. Not only do you get a bit of assistance but you do have to put the ball in the right area and they were able to do that. They bowled very well.”
South Africa were keen to bat first when they won the toss and while they had their jitters de Villiers had support from Quinton de Kock (68) to give their innings some respectability.
New Zealand’s reply started disastrously with openers Tom Latham (nought) and Dean Brownlie (two) gone inside three overs.
Kane Williamson, on four, should have joined them but Hashim Amla failed to grasp a regulation catch at first slip.
It was a short-lived reprieve, however, as Williamson struggled to 23 when he was bowled by Phehlukwayo and Ross Taylor (18) went lbw to Pretorius in the following over. D. Brownlie c de Kock b Rabada T. Latham c Duminy b Parnell K. Williamson b Phehlukwayo R. Taylor lbw Pretorius 1 N. Broom c Amla b Phehlukwayo J. Neesham c&b Parnell M. Santner b Pretorius C. De Grandhomme not out T. Southee c de Kock b Rabada L. Ferguson b Tahir T. Boult c de Villiers b Pretorious 2 0 23 8 0 13 1 34 5 4 4 8 (32.2 overs) 112
1-2, 2-11, 3-48, 4-48, 5-51, 6-58, 7-77, 8-82, 9-95, 10-112.
Rabada 10-0-39-2 (2w), Parnell 8-0-33-2, Phehlukwayo 5-0-12-2 (1w), Pretorius 5.2-1-5-3, Tahir 4-1-23-1 (1w) on by 159 runs to lead series 2-1