New Zealand and South Africa face-off in the second of the three-match One-Day International (ODI) series at the Bay Oval in Mount Maunganui on Friday. While the series got off to a good start for the South Africans courtesy a comfortable six-wicket win in the first ODI that took place at the same venue, hosts New Zealand will look to give their best shot in order to draw level and keep the series alive.
Though the Kiwis have not had their share of international cricket in the recent past , having played their last ODI back in January, they need to get their rhythm back with the ICC World Cup 2015, to be held in Australia and New Zealand, just around the corner. New Zealand were put into bat by the Proteas , skipper AB de Villiers took the decision keeping in mind the slow nature of the wicket that would make it difficult for the side batting first to pile on the runs.
The experimental move to open with Jimmy Neesham was hardly a successful one as the opening stand lasted a mere 21 runs. Wickets tumbled at regular intervals for the Kiwis, losing their fifth wicket with 68 runs on board, and then collapsing to 156 for the loss of nine wickets. A last wicket-stand was the only saving grace for the Kiwis, the majority of runs being scored by Luke Ronchi (99). The Proteas did not face much difficulty during their chase of the below par target, except during the initial stage of the innings when they lost their first couple of wickets cheaply. It was ultimately the middle-order duo of de Villiers and JP Duminy who saved the day for their team with gritty half-centuries.
Squads:
New Zealand: Brendon McCullum (c&wk), Martin Guptill, Tom Latham, James Neesham, Corey Anderson, Luke Ronchi, Nathan McCullum, Daniel Vettori, Kyle Mills, Tim Southee, Trent Boult, Dean Brownie, Matt Henry, Mitchell McCleneghan
South Africa: Hashim Amla, Quinton de Kock (wk), Faf du Plessis, AB de Villiers (c), Jean-Paul Duminy, David Miller, Ryan McLaren, Aaron Phangiso, Morne Morkel, Dale Steyn, Imran Tahir, Rilee Rossouw, Wayne Parnell, Vernon Philander, Kyle Abbott
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