Published: Oct 24, 2014, 02:18 AM (IST)
Edited: Oct 24, 2014, 03:03 AM (IST)
Oct 24, 2014
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.
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.
Catch the Live Blog of the match here
Complete coverage of South Africa’s tour of New Zealand
