Kiwis lose last-ball thriller
Nailbiting finish to third game
The Black Caps were denied a oneday international series sweep on the final ball in the third match at Potchefstroom this morning.
With South Africa nine wickets down and needing three runs from James Franklin’s last delivery, chasing New Zealand’s 260 for 9, Ryan McLaren dropped to his knee and struck a six over fine leg for a one-wicket victory.
The Black Caps still take a 2-1 series win after their victories in Paarl and Kimberley.
Earlier, Franklin smashed a late half-century to boost New Zealand’s score, raising the tourists’ hopes of inflicting a historic first home series whitewash.
Franklin was 53 not out off 52 balls, with three fours and a six, dragging New Zealand to a competitive total at Senwes Park after Lonwabo Tsotsobe and Ryan McLaren shared eight wickets.
Tsotsobe struck early to remove Martin Guptill and Kane Williamson in his 4-45, but New Zealand recovered with successive halfcentury partnerships between Grant Elliott and Colin Munro, and Munro and Franklin.
Munro’s 57, his maiden halfcentury, and Elliott’s 54 helped to hold together New Zealand’s innings after the Black Caps were 68 for 4 and 129 for 5.
As good as South Africa were in the test series, the Proteas were left trailing by a canny limited overs effort from the Black Caps, who continued to outmanoeuvre the home team in the final game of the short series.
New Zealand posted a reasonable score after being under significant pressure. Elliott and Munro counter-attacked in a 61-run stand, and Munro and Franklin then added 67 for the sixth wicket.
Munro hit six fours and a six for his first ODI 50 in his second game, and Franklin’s late attack took the Black Caps to 260, after it was uncertain if they would get more than 220 on a decent batting pitch.
The left-hander won the first ODI in Paarl for New Zealand to put the tourists on course for their first series victory in South Africa, and could have helped to add a historic whitewash in the Black Caps’ final game of the tour.
With captain AB de Villiers suspended, all-rounder Jacques Kallis being rested and star batsman Hashim Amla injured, South Africa recalled fast bowler Dale Steyn to restore some pride in Potchefstroom.
But the home bowlers veered off course after a good start from Tsotsobe and McLaren, who enjoyed a return of 4-52.
They conceded 17 wides in their 28 extras as the New Zealand mid- dle order cashed in.
Steyn, the world’s top-ranked test bowler, had six wides in his 0-56 from 10 overs, as South Africa’s one-day performance continued to be far off the standards they have set in the five-day form of the game.