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South Africa vs New Zealand 2014: 5 memorable matches

New Zealand and South Africa face-off in a three match ODI series starting October 21.

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New Zealand and South Africa will play
New Zealand and South Africa will play a three-match ODI series starting October 21 © Getty Images

New Zealand and South Africa go up against each other in a three match One-Day International series which commences on October 21 in New Zealand. Over the years there have been some matches that have gone down to the wire. Indrajit Dutta  looks back at some unforgettable encounters between these two sides.

New Zealand, not blessed with an abundance of talent have often punched above their weight, South Africa on the other hand rely on being clinical and ruthless and often look to punch their opponents down. Over the years there have been some encounters where neither side has refused to give an inch, as a result last ball finishes have been numerous.

1 . New Zealand vs South Africa , Match no 15, The Wanderers, Johannesburg, ICC World Cup 2003

This was a league game which sides wanted to win desperately. South Africa, the hosts, had lost their the World Cup opener to the West Indies at Durban by three runs. Lara had led the way for the West Indies with a sublime hundred. New Zealand too did not fare in their first game against Sri Lanka as they were thumped by 47 runs.

Both teams responded with a win in their next game. The Proteas, hammered Kenya while the Kiwis saw off the West Indies by 20 runs. A win in this league encounter would make things easier for either team. In the end two rain breaks and a power failure affected proceedings in this game.

The hosts got off to an excellent start thanks due to belligerent opener Herschelle Gibbs and Graeme Smith as they put on 60 in 9.5 overs before Smith departed. Gibbs went along in the same manner aided by contrubutions by Nicky Boje, Jacques Kallis and Lance Klusener. Gibbs’ 143 took his team to a huge target of 306.

New Zealand had a game on their hands. Stephen Fleming, prior to the game, had made three hundreds in his One-Day career. Here with his team under considerable pressure he produced perhaps his best knock in One-Day cricket as he went onto make 134.  Fleming came out all guns blazing, he was severe on legend Allan Donald. The paceman conceded 52 in his five fours. This was simply Fleming’s day. The New Zealand skipper was helped by Nathan Astle who made an unbeaten 52. A power failure and rain breaks meant that New Zealand had to make 226 in 39 overs, they got there in 36.5 overs.  This loss meant the hosts were in serious danger of crashing out in the league stages of the World Cup whereas the Kiwis had seen their position improve.

In the end South Africa were knocked out in the league stages whereas New Zealand did not go beyond the Super Sixes.

Brief scores:

South Africa 306 for 6  in 50 overs (Heschelle Gibbs 143; Jacob Oram 2 for 52) lost to New Zealand 229 for 1 in 36.5 overs (Stephen Fleming 134*) by 9 wickets (via Duckworth/Lewis).

2. New Zealand vs South Africa , Bellrieve Oval, Hobart, Match No 5 Carlton & United Series 1997-98

South Africa went into this game having lost their previous one to New Zealand.  Batting first on a slow and low Bellirieve Oval wicket the Proteas huffed and puffed their way to 174. The fact that 45 by Jacques Kallis was the highest score shows how tough scoring was on this wicket.  For the Kiwis left-armer Shayne O Connor, Chris Cairns and Chris Harris chipped in with two wickets each.

If the Kiwis had thought it would be an easy chase they were mistaken.  Hansie Cronje’s men hit back hard as Lance Klusener nipped out Matt Horne and Nathan Astle and reduced the Kiwis to six for two. Cairns and skipper Fleming then had a partnership before the all-rounder departed for 29.  Thereafter as the Proteas kept things tight New Zealand lost wickets at regular intervals. Soon they were in deep trouble at 111 for seven. At this point Chris Harris and a young Daniel Vettori were at the crease.

The two soon were not about to give up. They kept the scoreboard ticking as old hand Harris guided Vettori. Soon the number of runs needed began to lessen. 35 runs were needed of five overs. Harris and Vettori hung in there and reduced it further as now the Kiwis had to score 16 runs off two overs. There was excitement all over.

It was ultimately down to six runs off the final delivery. Klusener was the bowler as Harris faced up to him. Harris swung but he could not hit in the air as he edged toward slip and the ball had gone for four. The Proteas had seen the Kiwis by a solitary run– it had been a cliffhanger alright.

Brief scores:

South Africa 174 for 9 in 50 overs (Jacques Kallis 45, Lance Klusener 37; Chris Cairns 2 for 26) beat New Zealand 173 for 7 in 50 overs (Chris Harris 37*; Lance Klusener 3 for 46) by 1 run.

3. New Zealand vs South Africa, The Gabba, Brisbane, Match No 7 , Carlton & United Series 1997-98

It was yet another humdinger between these two sides at the Gabba in Brisbane. South Africa were dominating the Carlton& United Series. Going into this game South Africa had won three out of their four games. The Proteas looked set to win this one too. Batting first they had racked up exactly 300 in 50 overs. Gary Kirsten led the way with a determined 103.

New Zealand’s reply had two phases, for the first thirty overs they could force the pace and had sunk to 124 for six in the thirty first over, the next twenty overs saw a sea-change as Chris Cairns and Adam Parore refused to throw in  the towel and attacked as if there’s no tomorrow.

Cairns and Parore made 64 and 67 respectively. After Cairns was dismissed the feisty Dion Nash came in and carried on in the same vein. After Parore was out to Allan Donald it seemed Nash would have pull off something close to miraculous. The feisty bowling all-rounder was going to have a crack at it. Together Vettori and he took the game to the last over with 11 needed, Pollock was the bowler.

Soon it was down to seven off two with Nash on strike. Pollock charged in and delivered a ball drifting toward the leg-stump. Nash swept it in the air and the ball looked as if it would clear the ropes. It bounced just inside and went for four. Three were needed off one ball. Would Nash do an encore?  Pollock came charging in and bowled a length ball, Nash hit it high toward the deep, would the ball go for six? Unfortunately it din’t as Klusener held on to the catch under extreme pressure. New Zealand had lost by two runs.

Brief scores:

South Africa 300 in 50 overs (Gary Kirsten 103; Craig McMillan 2 for 27) beat New Zealand 298 in 50 overs (Adam Parore 67, Dion Nash 38; Allan Donald 4 for 43) by 2 runs.

4. New Zealand vs South Africa, Match No 3, Westpac Park, Wellington, 2004

A South Africa side still getting back to their feet led by a young Graeme Smith came to New Zealand for a six match one day series. The Kiwis were hell-bent on avenging their five nil loss against the Proteas four years back in South Africa.

This match at Wellington was a rain- affected one of 38 overs. Going into the game both sides were all-square with a win apiece. New Zealand batted first and put up a score of 254. Michael Papps top-scored with 67. There were useful contributions from Scott Styris and Brendon McCullum.

South Africa in reply started off well with skipper Smith and Herschelle Gibbs putting on 95 in thirteen overs. The Proteas, however, lost their way after Smith was dismissed for 43. Gibbs tried to keep things together with his 69 but his side lost five wickets for 19 runs in the middle overs. Suddenly Ashwell Prince and Nicky Boje were at the crease as the score read 154 for six. They kept the scoreboard moving but the run rate was mounting. Boje then got out with the score at 203 for seven in the 34 over which brought Pollock in. Prince, thereafter, hit out but the run rate kept on increasing. Ultimately, 27 were needed off the last over, Mills would bowl it.

The first three balls yielded nine runs. 18 was needed off three balls with Pollock, who could hit the ball a long way. Mills ran in and bowled a length ball which the South African all-rounder dispatched over mid-off for a six. 12 was needed now. Mills ran in again, his length was off and Pollock took advantage as he clouted another six over mid-off. Six runs from one ball was the equation, it had never been done in international cricket. There were consultations between captain Fleming and Mills. New Zealand had their heart in their mouth. Would Pollock pull of the seemingly possible off?

Mills ran in and bowled the best ball of the three– a yorker which Pollock could not find elevation for to hit. He could not score off the ball, nonetheless it was a terrific effort especially for someone with a groin strain. In the victory was New Zealand’s by five runs.

Brief scores:

New Zealand 254 for 5 in 38 overs (Michael Papps 67) beat South Africa 249 for 7 in 38 overs (Herschelle Gibbs 69, Shaun Pollock 29*) by 5 runs.

5. South Africa vs New Zealand, ICC World Cup 2011, 3rd Quarterfinal, Banghabandhu Stadium, Dhaka

South Africa were the favorites going into this knockout game at Dhaka. The capital of Bangladesh was, ironically, the place where Graeme Smith eight years before had captained the Proteas first in a game against India.

Smith’s side had topped their group with five wins out of six games in the league stage. They had even beaten hosts India in a last-over contest chasing 297. It was, however, their loss to England when chasing 172 that perhaps showed they lacked batting depth and this would have a bearing on this quarter-final.

Batting first the Kiwis scored 221 with Morne Morkel and Imran Tahir doing most of the damage.  Jesse Ryder led the way for his team with a composed 83. He showed here that he could adjust to the situation and the wicket and play an innings of great maturity. Ross Taylor gave him able support with 43 runs. Despite this a score of 221 did not seem enough.

The Proteas did not begin their chase well, losing Amla with the score on eight at the end of the first over. Smith and Kallis that more wickets were not lost. They were going along well till Jacob Oram accounted for the South African captain for 28. This brought AB de Villers in, he with Kallis put on 41 runs. The score was 108 in the 24th over and Kiwis needed inspiration from somewhere. Inspiration came in the first of the 25 th over with Oram taking a brilliant catch in the deep to get rid off Kallis.

This sparked off a collapse, from 108 for two South Africa crumbled to 132 for seven. Faf du Plessis tried his best to get things on track but New Zealand were not about to take their foot of South Africa’s throat.  In the end New Zealand bowled South Africa out for 172 and reached their 6th semi-final, their coach John Wright was ecstatic.  For Graeme Smith it was the end of the road as One-Day captain as South Africa had choked yet again.

Brief scores:

New Zealand 221 for 8  in 50 overs (Jesse Ryder 83 , Morne Morkel 3 for 46) beat South Africa 172 (Jacques Kallis 47; Nathan McCullum 3 for 24 ) by 49 runs.

Complete coverage of South Africa tour of New Zealand

(Indrajit Dutta is a reporter with CricketCountry. He is also a published poet and author. His Twitter handle is @duttaindro)

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