South Africa bounced back into contention for 2009 ICC Champions Trophy glory with a five-wicket triumph over New Zealand at SuperSport Park on Thursday.

Upset by Sri Lanka in the opening match of the ODI tournament two days ago, the Proteas had to win and did so with relative ease before a large, holiday crowd. New Zealand were all out for 214 in 47.5 overs and South Africa cruised to 217-5 in 41.1 overs and another win Sunday over England would virtually assure the hosts of a place in the knockout phase.

ParnellMan-of-the-match Wayne Parnell claimed career-best figures of 5-57 and was given good support from Dale Steyn (2-32) and Roelof van der Merwe (2-35) as New Zealand were bundled out in 47.5 overs. Brendon McCullum and Martin Guptill shared 46 in nine overs, ended when the latter picked out deep mid-wicket with his hook shot.

Grant Elliott shared 71 with Taylor before he was the first of two wickets for burly left-arm spinner Roelof van der Merwe, who extracted considerable turn at a sharp pace. Taylor’s controlled innings ended in the 47th over as the formidable pace duo of Parnell and Dale Steyn took the final five wickets inside three overs, leaving 13 deliveries unused.

Set a 4.30-runs-an-over target, Smith managed just seven before departing because he played a Daryl Tuffey too early and Vettori took a simple catch at mid-on. Jacques Kallis was next to go, adding 52 runs for the second wicket with Hisham Amla before an attempted drive off Shane Bond was snapped up by wicketkeeper McCullum.

Although ahead on run rate, South Africa were also struggling to build big partnerships and much-improved Amla returned to the pavilion having made 38 after being trapped leg before by Vettori. Duminy did not last long, scoring just 11 off 13 balls before becoming the victim of a spectacular McCullum catch after trying a cut that took a bottom edge.

South Africa beat New Zealand by 5 wickets

New Zealand Innings

Runs Balls 4s 6s
B McCullum c Duminy b J Botha 44 68 3 2
Ryder c van der Merwe b Parnell 8 12 1 0
Guptill c Amla b Parnell 21 26 4 0
Taylor lbw b Parnell 72 106 6 2
Elliott b van der Merwe 39 48 4 0
Broom lbw b van der Merwe 1 4 0 0
Hopkins c Duminy b Parnell 13 13 2 0
Mills c de Villiers b Steyn 0 3 0 0
Vettori not out 1 2 0 0
Tuffey c Duminy b Parnell 4 2 1 0
Bond c de Villiers b Steyn 0 4 0 0
Extras 1nb 1w 4b 5lb 11
Total all out 214 (47.5 ovs)
Bowler O M R W
Steyn 9.5 1 32 2
Parnell 8.0 0 57 5
Kallis 8.0 0 24 0
A Morkel 3.0 0 13 0
J Botha 9.0 1 44 1
van der Merwe 10.0 1 35 2
Fall of wicket
12 Ryder
58 Guptill
92 B McCullum
163 Elliott
171 Broom
203 Hopkins
204 Mills
209 Taylor
213 Tuffey
214 Bond

South Africa Innings

Runs Balls 4s 6s
Gm Smith c Vettori b Tuffey 7 14 1 0
Amla lbw b Vettori 38 65 3 0
Kallis c B McCullum b Bond 36 39 6 0
de Villiers not out 70 76 9 0
Duminy c B McCullum b Mills 11 13 2 0
Boucher c B McCullum b Tuffey 28 28 4 0
A Morkel not out 19 14 3 0
Extras 2nb 4w 2lb 8
Total for 5 217 (41.1 ovs)
Bowler O M R W
Mills 8.1 0 45 1
Bond 10.0 0 51 1
Tuffey 9.0 1 52 2
Vettori 10.0 1 34 1
Ryder 2.0 0 15 0
Guptill 1.0 0 13 0
Elliott 1.0 0 5 0
Fall of wicket
22 Gm Smith
74 Kallis
108 Amla
138 Duminy
180 Boucher

Related Posts: