South Africa v New Zealand, 1st ODI review: Amla and bowlers power South Africa to 20 runs victory

South Africa v New Zealand, 1st ODI review: Amla and bowlers power South Africa to 20 runs victory: The last time when these two sides took on each other at Auckland, the world was enthralled by a mind-wobbling encounter. After the 2-match T20I series got over with score line of 1-1, the cricket fans were expecting similar turns of events to occur this time around as well when both the sides clashed in the 1^st ODI match at Centurion. But, it was the dominant Proteas who put up a clinical performance and won the match by 20 runs.

Earlier New Zealand skipper Kane Williamson won the toss and chose to bowl. For South Africa David Wiese made his ODI debut while Vernon Philander was chosen ahead of Kyle Abbott. New Zealand team decided to opt for Ish Sodhi than a pacer in the side.

South African openers Morne Van Wyk and Hashim Amla looked at ease upfront. Amla in particular, looked in sublime touch. Mitchell McClenaghan bowled short of length deliveries and Amla was up to the task. He first hammered a cracking six over the backward point and then pulled another short ball to sail over the head of the long leg fielder. But, it was Mitchell McClenaghan who induced Van Wyk’s edge in the 9^th over and Nathan McCullum held on to a simple catch.

ButVan Wyk’s departure came as no relief for the tourists as that brought the destructive Rilee Rossouw to the crease. Though Rossouw took his time to get settle down but Amla looked unaffected at the other end. He started building up his innings like he often does in South African colours. Amla brought up his 29^th ODI fifty off just 56 deliveries. In the 26^th over Kiwi fielder Adam Milne couldn’t hold on to a tough chance of Rossouw while in the 31^st over Latham dropped a comparatively easier chance to give new lease of life to Amla. And then there was no looking back for the Proteas duo.

Rossouw took 81 deliveries to bring up his fifty but he made up for it as he put his legs on the accelerator then on. In the next 31 deliveries the sothpaw made 39 runs much to the delight of the hosts. In the 40^th over Amla completed his 21^st century and became the fastest batter in terms of innings to make 21 tons in ODI cricket. But then Mitchell McClenaghan struck in the 42^nd over and his yorker left Rossouw’s leg stump rolling. That brought AB de Villiers to the crease who garnered a big roar from the crowd. But, De Villiers faltered playing a pull shot of Adam Milne. Milne and McClenaghan bowled brilliantly in the death overs due to which Proteas could manage only 85 runs in the last 10 overs. They set up a target of 305 runs for the hosts.

Dale Steyn drew first blood as he got rid of Kiwi opener Luke Ronchi in the very first over. Ronchi had played the ball with hard hands and it took the edge of his bat and Amla at slip held on to a low catch. But that brought the reliable Kane Williamson on to the crease. He steadied the innings with Tom Latham as they started rebuilding the innings. Williamson and Latham scored boundaries when they got lose deliveries but mostly played with caution.

The duo completed 100 runs partnership in 21^st over and Williamson looked set to steer the chase. But in 23^rd over, came the turning point of the match. Williamson came down the track but Tahir outfoxed him as he got deceived playing the inside-out shot. In the 30^th over Vernon Philander took crucial wickets of Elliot and Latham respectively in space of just 3 balls to derail the Kiwi’s chase. But, the Kiwi pair of Jimmy Neesham and Colin Munro was not ready to hand over the reins to the hosts, that easily.

Neesham was more aggressive of the two and kept getting the boundaries on regular intervals. In the last 10 overs the visitors required further 79 runs to win with 5 wickets in hand. But the debutant Wiese provided much-needed wicket of Neesham (41) with his deceptive slower delivery. Then Colin Munro tried an ambitious reverse sweep of Tahir’s bowling only to get out plumb in-front which dampened chances of Kiwi’s victory completely. The South African wrapped up New Zealand’s innings on 284 runs. New Zealand lost the match by 20 runs.

Brief scores:

South Africa – 304/7 (Amla 124, Rossouw 89; Milne 2/51) won by 20 runs.

New Zealand – 284 (Latham 60, Williamson 47; Tahir 2/40)

Man of the Match: Hashim Amla