Thursday, September 24, 2009

SA discover winning formula


South Africa got their Champions Trophy campaign back on track with a comfortable five-wicket win over New Zealand at Supersport Park.

AB de Villiers starred with the bat and Wayne Parnell with the ball for the hosts, who were surprisingly beaten by Sri Lanka in their opening game, were determined not to repeat their performance from two days earlier.

After asking the visitors to bat first, Parnell made amends for his loose bowling by snapping up a career-best five for 57 as the Black Caps were dismissed for a mediocre 214 in 47.5 overs - Ross Taylor top-scoring with 72.

In response, De Villiers hit an unbeaten 70 and received good support from Hashim Amla (38) and Jacques Kallis (36) to guide South Africa home with more than eight overs to spare.

The day began with the New Zealanders making a cagey start and they lost Jesse Ryder (eight) after just four overs - the opener excellently snapped up by Roelof van der Merwe back-pedalling from mid-wicket off Parnell.

Brendon McCullum and Martin Guptill slowly started to rebuild, putting on 46 together, before the latter pulled the same bowler straight to Amla on the square-leg boundary for 21.

Another period of consolidation ensued with a 34-run stand between Taylor and McCullum, but again the visitors were pegged back, this time when their wicketkeeper swept Johan Botha to JP Duminy at short fine leg for 44.

South African-born Grant Elliott came in and helped take his adopted New Zealand pass the 100 mark in the 27th over, followed by the 50 partnership in 75 balls with Taylor.

But after making 39, Elliott played down the wrong line to Van der Merwe and was bowled.

The Proteas all-rounder then trapped new man Neil Broom leg before wicket, but Taylor continued to fight and raised his fifty from 90 balls - the 200 coming not long afterwards, in the 45th over.

Gareth Hopkins (13) and Kyle Mills (nought) went cheaply, before Parnell ended the 106-ball knock of batting mainstay Taylor, trapping him lbw as New Zealand folded.

South Africa's innings followed a similar pattern to that of their visitors - captain Graeme Smith handing their opponents an early wicket when he played too early at Daryl Tuffey and lifted a simple chance to opposite number Daniel Vettori at mid-on.

Kallis then joined Amla and the pair began to rebuild.

They brought up a fifty stand in 57 balls, but veteran all-rounder Kallis then edged Shane Bond to McCullum for 36.

Amla (38) was next to go, trapped lbw by Vettori, and South Africa met further trouble with the score on 138 with Kyle Mills and McCullum combining to send Duminy (11) on his way.

De Villiers continued his march, reaching his half-century in 54 balls with a single off Elliott, but lost Mark Boucher (28) in the process.

Albie Morkel (19 not out) joined his domestic provincial teammate to see the Proteas over the line in the 42nd over.

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