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New Zealand vs South Africa, 2nd ODI at Mt Maunganui Preview: Hosts look to draw level to stay alive

New Zealand lost the first One-Day by seven wickets.

AB de Villiers made an unbeaten 89 to guide South Africa(green) a win against New Zealand(black) © Getty Images
AB de Villiers(right) made an unbeaten 89 to guide South Africa a win against New Zealand © Getty Images

By Amit Banerjee

Oct 23, 2014

The three-match One-Day International (ODI) series between New Zealand and South Africa in the former’s backyard got off to a good start for the Proteas as they won the first encounter at Mount Maunganui by a comfortable margin of six wickets. For the hosts, it was a hard lesson learnt, as they were outperformed by the South Africans virtually in every department and need to get their act right if they are to draw level in the series.

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.

Both teams played their first match at the  Bay Oval at Mount Maunganui, which had hosted its first international encounter in January earlier this year. The two sides however, ought to have learnt from the mistakes committed in the first ODI. While the experiment involving Neesham did not turn out to be a successful one and can be given a bit of rethinking, the team needs to get its top-order right for strong starts to their innings’. The middle-order had its own issues, with the likes of skipper Brendon McCullum and Corey Anderson failing miserably with the bat. The additional blow of losing Kane Williamson’s services for the rest of the tour should add insult to injury, for the Kiwis are already without the services of Ross Taylor, though they will be boosted by the availability of Tim Southee for the second encounter. The bowling department too needs to take proper advantage of the early breakthroughs and restrict budding partnerships which can take the initiative away from them.

For the Proteas, they will be delighted especially with the way they bowled and the way the middle-order handled the pressure after losing a few wickets during their chase. South Africa, succumbed to pressure while chasing a below-par target during the quarter-final of the previous World Cup against the Kiwis, will appreciate the development of such qualities in the team ahead of the World Cup. They need to get their opening act right though, as opening batsman Quinton  de Kock and number three batsman Faf du Plessis could not add much to the total, though both have been in stellar form in the recent past.  The bowlers will look to continue their form and keep the New Zealand batsman at bay during the second ODI and help seal the series in the process.

Time: 03:00 IST | 21:30 GMT | 10:30Local

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

Complete coverage of New Zealand vs South Africa 2014

(Amit Banerjee, a reporter at CricketCountry, takes keen interest in photography, traveling, technology, automobiles, food and, of course, cricket. He can be followed on Twitter via his handle @akb287)

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