New Zealand vs South Africa, Only T20I: 5 Talking Points

South Africa began their tour of New Zealand with a resounding victory in the one-off T20 against the hosts defeating them by a convincing margin of 78 runs. Played at the Eden Park in Auckland, the visitors looked in complete control of proceedings from the word go. After losing an early wicket in the form of Quinton de Kock in the 3rd over, the visitors looked in no discomfort and piled on the runs against a listless New Zealand bowling attack. Hashim Amla was the top scorer for the visitors with a well-made 62.

The hosts never got going and kept losing wickets at regular intervals. It was an exceptional bowling performance from Andile Phehlukwayo and Imran Tahir as the duo finished with 3 and 5 wickets respectively. Despite a valiant effort from Tom Bruce who chipped in with 33 in the middle overs, New Zealand was shot out for 107 in only the 15th over. That said here we have a look at 5 Talking Points from the match

1. Hashim Amla plays a composed knock top of the order

Veteran batsman Hashim Amla who roared back to form with a 150 against Sri Lanka in the recent concluded ODI series looked in good knick during the only T20I against New Zealand. After batting first, South Africa lost de Kock early but Amla along with Faf du Plessis started the repair job and stitched together a valuable 87 runs partnership for the 2nd wicket. He started with consecutive boundaries of Ben Wheeler in the 2nd over and smashed the same bowler for 4 boundaries in the 5th over.

Tim Southee wasn’t spared either as he was smashed for 3 boundaries in the 6th over. Amla kept rotating the strike along and unleashed the big shots again in the 10th over by smashing Colin Munro for a four and a six. He was eventually dismissed in the 14th over by Ben Wheeler after scoring 62 of 43 deliveries, an innings constructed with 9 fours and a solitary six.

Also read: Twitter Reactions South Africa steal the show in one-off T20I

2. Trent Boult returns with exceptional figures of 2/8 in 4 overs

Left-arm pacer Trent Boult was at his fiery best and conceded only 8 runs in his allotted 4 overs. Starting off the proceedings, Boult conceded a solitary run in his opening over. His first wicket came in the 3rd over when he removed dangerman Quinton de Kock with a short of length delivery. He timed it well but couldn’t clear the square leg boundary and was held out by Mitchell Santner in the deep-=square leg region.

Boult returned in the 11th over and conceded 4 runs amidst a dropped chance in the 3rd delivery of the over. He completed his full quota in the 19th over and removed Farhaan Behardien in the very first delivery of the over. He bowled some brilliant Yorkers in his final five deliveries where he conceded only 2 runs.

3. JP Duminy’s quickfire 29 adds impetus to the innings

The hard-hitting southpaw came into the crease at the fall of Hashim Amla’s wicket and looked to up the ante from the word go. He began with a big six of Mitchell Santner and added a couple of boundaries of Tim Southee in the 17th over to race off to 21 of 10 deliveries. The southpaw was not finished yet as he smashed Ben Wheeler for a straight six in the 18th over. He was eventually dismissed in the final over after scoring 29 of 16 balls. He struck two fours and two sixes during his breezy innings.

4. Andile Phehlukwayo’s impressive spell

Medium pacer Andile Phehlukwayo came into the attack in the 7th over with the hosts precariously placed at 34/2 and removed rival captain Kane Williamson in only the 3rd delivery of his spell. It was a short delivery from Phehlukwayo and Williamson guided it straight to the square leg fielder Wayne Parnell.

His 2nd wicket came in the 10th over when he removed hard-hitter Corey Anderson with a well-disguised slower delivery. The final wicket of his spell came in the 12th over when the intelligent medium pacer dismissed Mitchell Santner with a full pitched delivery. The left-hander tried to squeeze it past Hashim Amla but held out in the covers.

5. Imran Tahir’s bags his maiden 5 wicket haul

Leg-spinner Imran Tahir continued his exceptional form especially in the limited overs format and finished with sensational figures of 5/24 in 3.5 overs. Coming into the attack in the 9th over, Tahir bowled a quiet opening over conceding only 4 runs in the process. He started waving his magic from the 11th over when he removed Tom Bruce and Luke Ronchi on successive deliveries to derail the progress of the hosts.

After getting smashed for two gigantic sixes in the 13th over by Colin de Grandhomme, the leggie came back strongly to remove the hard-hitter in the 4th delivery of the over. His final two wickets came in the final over of the match as he removed Ben Wheeler and Tim Southee in 3 balls to shot the hosts out for 107 in the 15th over.