Published: Aug 23, 2015, 05:05 PM (IST)
Edited: Aug 23, 2015, 05:50 PM (IST)
Kane Williamson-led side restricted South Africa to 230 in the second One Day International (ODI) of the three-match series at Potchefstroom. After quick fall of the top order, it was Farhaan Behardien whose 87-ball 70 recovered the hosts from going down to 76 for four in the 18th over. The Black Caps who are trailing 0-1 in the series have shown a great fight back in their must win game even when the side is not a full- fledged one. Behardien, who surpassed his previous highest ODI score of 64 not out, made hardly any mistake in his innings that included five fours and a six that was hit off Ish Sodhi’s delivery. Live Cricket Score, South Africa vs New Zealand 2015, 2nd ODI at Potchefstroom
The New Zealanders who are without the services of pace duo—Trent Boult and Tim Southee—did not miss them very much on Sunday, thanks to the terrific spell by Adam Milne, who removed the openers in his first two overs. In the very second over of the day, South Africa faced a huge blow when the previous game’s centurion Hashim Amla threw away his wicket. Without reaching the ball, the African got a thick top edge thereby giving a simple catch to the third man (Grant Elliot).
Two deliveries later, Proteas would have lost Rilee Rossouw when the latter drove a low full toss back to Milne; fortunate for the hosts, the bowler failed to catch that one. The 23-year-old made sure the dropped catch did not cost them when he dismissed the wicket-keeper batsman Morne van Wyk on the last ball of the fourth over. While Milne targeted the batsman’s off-stump, van Wyk while chipping it towards either the third man or point found an inside edge that landed on the bottom his off-stump.
Proteas could reach a big score, provided their next man, AB de Villiers batted till end. However, that did not happen. Kiwis’ ICC Cricket World Cup 2016 semi hero, Grant Elliot gave a huge breakthrough when he sent de Villiers back to the pavilion, just at the time when the latter was looking to get going to another big innings. The bounce did the job for Elliot, while the African skipper tried to chip it towards the leg he defended it awkwardly giving an easy catch to Martin Guptill at mid-wicket.
Doug Bracewell, who last played an ODI in 2013, was the most economical bowler for the Blacks Caps today with two big wickets in his spell of ten overs giving just 20 runs. The 24-year-old has never been their strike bowler in the shorter format that was the reason for the criticisms that were followed as a result of his inclusion in the squad replacing Mitchell McClenaghan. Just when the hosts were looking miserable with three down after 15 overs, Bracewell took advantage of the pressure on them to bag his eighth and ninth ODI wicket— Rossouw and David Miller.
Brief scores:
South Africa 204 (Farhaan Behardien 70, Rilee Rossouw 39, Doug Bracewell 3 for 31, Adam Milne 2 for 39) vs New Zealand
(Sakshi Gupta, a reporter with CricketCountry, is a sports fanatic whose mantra in life is “do only what you enjoy.” Her Twitter handle is @sakshi2929)
