Innings South Africa 279 for 8 (De Villiers 72*, du Plessis 67, Patel 2-57) v New Zealand
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AB de Villiers zoomed to 72 off 59 balls to lead South Africa’s late surge © Getty Images
Middle-order slides for South Africa have been a feature of this series, as have the revivals that have followed, and they stuck to the script in Hamilton. They lost 4 for 30 in ten overs as New Zealand created problems with spin and cutters, but AB de Villiers was again to the rescue, in the company of the lower order, to marshal them to 279 for 8 which will prove a demanding chase on a tricky surface.
As telegraphed, there was assistance for the spinners – not raging turn but enough grip to make scoring tough – and for the first time in ODI history, two spinners opened the bowling in the first innings. The recalled Jeetan Patel, selected ahead of Ish Sodhi, struck in the first over of the match and finished with 2 for 57, while Mitchell Santner was thrifty with 1 for 40.
Cutters and slower balls used in the middle overs by Tim Southee and Jimmy Neesham also proved effective, but Southee and Trent Boult took punishment at the end as 100 runs came off the last eight overs, with Wayne Parnell contributing a meaty 29 off 12 balls in adding 63 with de Villiers.
More to follow…
Andrew McGlashan is a deputy editor at ESPNcricinfo
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Source: ESPN Crickinfo