Ken Borland

Hashim Amla and the consistent efforts of the bowlers led South Africa to a six-wicket victory, and the series win, with 70 balls to spare in the second ODI against New Zealand in Napier on Wednesday.

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South Africa’s bowlers – especially Lonwabo Tsotsobe and Morne Morkel – revelled in a McLean Park pitch that provided them with good pace and bounce and blasted New Zealand out for just 230.

Amla, after a poor tour thus far, then returned to his daily grind of making run-scoring look easy, breezing to 92 off 107 balls to make it a routine run-chase.

Amla telegraphed his intentions of doing the job as quickly and smoothly as possible by lashing six fours in his first 20 balls, while Faf du Plessis raced to 34 off 25 balls to ensure that South Africa were not affected either by the early loss of Jacques Kallis, who was superbly caught by wicketkeeper Brendon McCullum, diving forward, off Kyle Mills for four, or the fact that regular opener Graeme Smith was not playing due to a badly-bruised forearm.

Du Plessis and Amla laid down the law with a series of crunching strokes through the off side, adding 69 for the second wicket in just 8.4 overs, before a wonderful piece of cricket by Martin Guptill removed Du Plessis.

The in-form Nashua Titans batsman hooked Andy Ellis to deep square-leg, where Guptill took the catch but then quickly got rid of the ball as he tiptoed towards and then over the boundary rope. Having regained his balance, he then stepped back into the field of play and regathered the ball he had lobbed up, in a superb example of composure, calm and presence of mind.

This brought the Kiwis some respite from the flood of boundaries as JP Duminy came in, but the batsmen could afford to be selective as they needed only 151 runs from 231 balls.

Duminy was in even better touch than in the second ODI, and cruised to 43 off 39 balls before he was deceived by leg-spinner Tarun Nethula and offered a simple return catch.

Nethula was actually unfortunate to not finish with better figures than two for 60 off his 10 overs as he also gave Amla a tough time and could have had had three catches taken off his bowling.

Amla had reached his 17th ODI half-century off just 51 balls, but fell just short of his 10th century when Nethula finally claimed his scalp. It was a perfectly-pitched leg-break that Amla was tentative in playing off the front foot, edging the turning ball to wicketkeeper McCullum.

But that was the last wicket New Zealand took as skipper AB de Villiers (31*) and Justin Ontong (17*) applied the final touches to an impressive victory.

The bowlers had earlier done South Africa proud as they dismissed New Zealand for just 230, as a perfect batting pitch, short square boundaries and not even a second-wicket stand of 107 off 113 balls between Guptill and McCullum could faze the visitors as they claimed the last eight wickets for just 67 runs.

DIRECT AND UNYIELDING APPROACH

South Africa’s approach was direct and unyielding – the McLean Park pitch offered one consolation for the bowlers in the form of excellent bounce and the pacemen bombarded the New Zealand batsmen. The quality of the short-pitched bowling was such that the batsmen could not take consistent advantage of the short square boundaries.

Given that, it was unsurprising that South Africa’s two tallest bowlers were their most successful.

Morne Morkel was twice on a hat-trick as he claimed a superb, career-best five for 38 in 9.3 overs, while Tsotsobe continued his assault on the number one spot in the ICC rankings with outstanding figures of three for 43 in his 10 overs.

Captain De Villiers figured it would be a difficult ground on which to defend a total, so he sent New Zealand in and, after Tsotsobe had trapped Rob Nicol leg-before for 11, Guptill and McCullum put the home side on top.

Both batsmen devoured anything that offered width or was down leg, and those South Africans watching at home were facing an uncomfortable breakfast as New Zealand reached the halfway mark just one wicket down.

Smothering the run-rate was always going to be a difficult ask, so South Africa focused their attention on taking wickets.

The man who made the breakthrough was their very own version of the Bionic Man – Kallis.

The 36-year-old came rumbling in at good pace, Guptill had no business trying to cut a back-of-a-length delivery that leapt off the pitch, and wicketkeeper De Villiers had no problems taking the catch. The in-form opener had cruised to 58 off 73 balls without any problems, and his dismissal was nothing less than a waste.

McCullum was initially nowhere near as fluent as Guptill and little went for the South African bowlers early in his knock. The New Zealand captain had nevertheless regained his touch enough for him to take the batting powerplay in the 33rd over.

It turned out to be a disaster for the home side as they lost three wickets and scored just 20 runs in the five powerplay overs.

WELL-OILED ACTION

It was Tsotsobe who began the crash. The left-armer has such a well-oiled action these days and his accuracy quickly forced a false shot from Kane Williamson (13), who tried to drive the ball over the top. Kallis scooted backwards from mid-on and did superbly well to take the catch behind his head.

Tsotsobe’s next over brought the major scalp of McCullum, whose whip off his pads found a happy home in Ontong’s hands on the deep square-leg boundary. McCullum’s 85 off 96 balls, with 11 fours and two sixes, was a fine innings, but he missed the chance to really turn the knife.

The innings was done and dusted little more than an hour later, as fast bowlers Steyn and Morkel got down to business.

Jesse Ryder was caught behind off Steyn for a duck and Morkel used steep bounce to remove James Franklin (6) and Mills (0) with successive deliveries in the 38th over.

And Morkel did the same in the 46th over, removing Tim Southee, who had lashed a pair of fours and sixes in his 28, and Nethula (0) with successive balls.

Morkel then terminated the innings with 15 balls remaining when he bowled Ellis for 19.

New Zealand would have been in an even worse state if Tsotsobe had not given McCullum a life on 18 when he put down a relatively simple return catch. But it ended up not being a disaster, South Africa’s wonderful bowling attack being ample insurance against that.

South Africa cruised to victory against New Zealand, winning the second one-day international by six wickets with 70 balls to spare, to win the series at McLean Park in Napier on Wednesday.

38th over – Some louts in the crowd are chanting “Boooring!”. Justin Ontong responds by trying a rash pull shot off Tim Southee, is late on the shot and edges it over the wicketkeeper for a streaky four runs. The bowler glowers, but this time keeps his mouth closed. There is a look of immense satisfaction on Ontong’s face, followed by one of the brightest smiles in cricket, as he gets the next ball out of the screws, pulling it like a rocket over midwicket for four. AB de Villiers steps outside leg stump to the last ball of the over, Southee tries to follow him, but the ball is on the pads and the South African captain tickles it away to fine leg for four more.

36th over – Justin Ontong is finally off the mark from his eighth delivery with a wonderful on-drive for four off Tim Southee.

33rd over – Lovely timing from AB de Villiers as he waits for the reverse-swing from Andy McKay and then just pushes the ball straight back down the ground for four.

32nd over – WICKET – Tarun Nethula has another one and it’s the big wicket of Hashim Amla, just short of his century! Nethula delivers a perfect-length leg-break, Amla comes forward rather tentatively, there is turn, the outside edge is found and wicketkeeper Brendon McCullum takes the catch. Amla’s 92 off 107 balls, with a dozen fours, was a wonderful innings though, deserving of the highest praise.

28th over – Amla nearly offers a return catch to Nethula, but is quickly on to the next ball, which is quicker, but a fraction short, cutting it emphatically behind point for four.

26th over – Tossed up wide by Nethula and Amla crashes the ball through the covers for four. WICKET – But finally the leg-spinner gets the wicket he deserves as Duminy tries to turn a delivery away on the leg-side. But it’s a slower ball and it goes straight on off the pitch, finding a leading edge and giving Nethula an easy return catch. Duminy’s 43 off 39 balls has helped Amla just about seal the contest though.

23rd over – Kyle Mills is unhappy that umpire Aleem Dar has called a ball outside off stump a wide and he wants a review! The paceman is even grumpier two balls later when Duminy crashes a four through the covers.

22nd over – A neatly-played paddle-sweep by Duminy brings him four runs off Nethula.

20th over – Rotten luck for leg-spinner Nethula, who has actually bowled rather well. Twice Amla tries to heave the ball leg-side but ends up skying the ball. The first time it lands between long-on and deep midwicket, and the second time, Rob Nicol drops a simple catch at long-off, with Amla on 61. The over goes downhill from there, with five wides down the leg-side as wicketkeeper McCullum can’t gather, and Duminy then lashes the last ball of the over through the covers for four.

19th over – Southee drops short again and Duminy comfortably pulls the ball from outside off stump, in front of midwicket for four.

17th over – Amla collects four more with a beautifully-controlled and well-placed hook shot, well in front of square, off Southee.

16th over – Nethula, the leg-spinner controversially brought in for Nathan McCullum, comes on the bowl. A leg-spinner with short square boundaries is always a risk and, predictably, his first ball is slightly short and cut for four by Amla.

14th over – Short from Andy Ellis and Duminy swivel-pulls it in front of fine leg for four.

13th over – Duminy has a lucky escape on two as he tries to turn a straight ball from McKay through square-leg, misses and is given out lbw by umpire Dar. But Duminy quickly calls for a review and the TV umpire rules that he got a scratch of bat on the ball. The Hotspot evidence didn’t look particularly convincing …

12th over – Ellis surprises Faf du Plessis by hitting him on the helmet with a short ball. WICKET – The strongly-built bowler digs the next ball in as well, but Du Plessis disdainfully hooks it high and seemingly over the boundary … But Martin Guptill is right on the rope at deep square-leg and does excellent work to complete the catch. Having caught the ball, he shows tremendous composure, calm and presence of mind to tiptoe next to the line, hop over while tossing the ball back infield, regain his balance and then re-catch the ball! Du Plessis’ fiery knock ends on 34 off 25 balls.

11th over – McKay starts the next over with a half-volley outside off stump, and Du Plessis drives it through the covers for four. The in-form Du Plessis repeats the stroke three balls later and then clips another full ball on his pads past the despairing dive of Nethula at wide mid-on for the third boundary of the over.

10th over – Du Plessis dances down the pitch and launches medium-pacer Ellis high over mid-off for four. Amla ends the over with another boundary, just skilfully running the ball down to third man.

8th over – Du Plessis ruins a tidy over from Southee by standing tall and belting the last ball of the over square through the off side for four.

7th over – Left-arm seamer McKay drops short and wide to Amla, who lambasts the ball through cover-point for another boundary.

5th over – Du Plessis gets off the mark as he elegantly strokes a wide delivery from Mills through extra cover for four. Amla is on fire as he ends the over with another pair of successive boundaries, punching a slower ball straight down the ground and then cuts a short ball behind square.

4th over – Phwoar! What batting by Amla as he collects three boundaries off Southee’s over. The first ball of the over is wide of off stump and stroked through the covers with magnificent ease. Amla then ends the over with successive boundaries as he works Southee off his hip with tremendous timing through midwicket, and then punches a superb square-drive through point.

3rd over – Amla flashes a square-drive off Mills through point for four. The wristy Amla will probably enjoy these short square boundaries … Kallis, opening the batting in place of the injured Graeme Smith, then gets off the mark with a classic straight drive down the ground for four. WICKET – But Kallis is out next ball as he just throws the bat at a wide delivery from Mills and gets an inside edge. Wicketkeeper Brendon McCullum takes a super catch diving forward as the ball dies on him.

New Zealand innings

South Africa’s bowlers answered their captain’s call in superb fashion as they bowled New Zealand out for 230 in the second one-day international at McLean Park in Napier on Wednesday.

48th over – WICKET – Morne Morkel has his first five-wicket haul in ODIs as Andy Ellis (19) heaves a slower ball to Dale Steyn at long-on.

47th over – Ellis, meanwhile, has been defiant at the other end, but he now opens his shoulders and launches Jacques Kallis for a marvellous six straight down the ground.

46th over – Morne Morkel is once again on a hat-trick after again taking two wickets in two balls! WICKET – First of all Morne gets revenge for how Tim Southee treated his brother in the previous over, the batsman flat-batting a shortish delivery to Dale Steyn at mid-on. Southee scored 28 off 27 balls, with a pair of fours and sixes. WICKET – Tarun Nethula then fishes outside off stump at his first delivery in ODIs, getting a thin edge through to wicketkeeper AB de Villiers.

45th over – Albie Morkel returns and is unfortunate to concede a boundary first ball as Tim Southee once again backs away and gets an outside edge. But the next two deliveries are poor – short and then on the pads, and are hammered for leg-side sixes by Southee.

43rd over – Southee much prefers the slower stuff and he straight drives left-arm spinner Robin Peterson for six.

38th over – Morne Morkel uses steep bounce to make a double-strike! WICKET – James Franklin (6) can’t handle the steep bounce and, in trying to steer the ball away on the off-side, gets a bottom edge off his angled bat and back into the stumps. WICKET – Morkel follows up with a well-directed short delivery that lifts at new batsman Kyle Mills’ throat, he fends at the ball and Peterson dives forward in the gully to take the catch. Southee survives the hat-trick ball as he rapidly withdraws his bat and gloves from another snorter outside off stump.

36th over – WICKET – Steyn returns and claims South Africa’s third wicket of the powerplay! Jesse Ryder edges a flatfooted poke outside off stump and is caught behind by De Villiers for a two-ball duck.

35th over – WICKET – Lonwabo Tsotsobe strikes a major blow as Brendon McCullum whips a ball off his pads, but straight to Justin Ontong on the deep square-leg boundary! McCullum overcame a shaky start to score a pugnacious 85 off 96 balls, with 11 fours and two sixes. Tsotsobe ends his accurate spell with his first half-volley, which Franklin clips through wide mid-on for four.

34th over – A tremendous shot by McCullum as he leans back and pulls a Morne Morkel short ball through wide mid-on for four.

33rd over – WICKET – New Zealand take the batting powerplay but it provides Kallis with an early opportunity to show how brilliant he is in the field as well. Kane Williamson (13) steps out to drive Tsotsobe, but skews the ball high over mid-on. Kallis runs back and takes a superbly-judged catch behind his head.

31st over – An awkward hook shot by McCullum, but he still gets six runs off Kallis! The two Kolkata Knight Riders team-mates had a good chuckle about that mis-hit …

27th over – JP Duminy almost pulls off a spectacular catch! Williamson, on six, tries to drive Kallis off the back foot, gets an edge and Duminy, standing as a lone slip in about third slip position, dives full-length to his right, getting one hand to the ball, but can’t hold on.

25th over – A great shot by McCullum as he is quickly on to a short ball from Kallis, pulling it powerfully through midwicket for four. WICKET – But Golden Arm Kallis does the job he was brought on to do, getting the wicket and breaking the partnership of 107 off 113 balls. Martin Guptill tries to cut a delivery that is too close to him, and there is extra bounce, a top edge being taken comfortably by wicketkeeper De Villiers. Guptill continued his great form, though, with his impressive 58 off 73 balls, seeing New Zealand off to a fine start.

23rd over – Guptill celebrates reaching his 16th ODI half-century with a fine shot, slapping Peterson through a packed cover field for another boundary. McCullum also completes his half-century with a paddle-sweep for two runs, having faced just 53 balls and hit eight fours and a six. The Kiwi captain has faltered at times, but there have been plenty of fluid strokes too.

22nd over – Guptill completes another impressive half-century as he works Tsotsobe off his hip for a single to fine leg. Guptill has faced 63 balls and hit seven fours.

21st over – Peterson tosses up a half-volley outside off stump and Guptill launches the ball over the covers for four to take New Zealand past 100. The left-arm spinner then bowls McCullum a long-hop, which he heaves over midwicket for the first six of the innings.

20th over – Again, a fraction short from Steyn and Guptill crunches the ball off the back foot, through the covers, for a superb boundary.

19th over – Left-arm spinner Peterson switches ends but concedes his first boundary as McCullum clears the front leg and punches the ball through the covers. The next delivery draws a leading edge which drops just short of the bowler!

17th over – Successive boundaries for McCullum as he pulls a poor short ball from Steyn past backward square-leg and then lashes a cut through point.

15th over – Wonderful timing by Guptill as he punches Albie Morkel off the back foot, through a sliding Tsotsobe at mid-on, for four.

13th over – Albie Morkel joins the attack, but it’s a poor start as his first ball slides into the pads and Guptill clips it through midwicket for four.

12th over – Another very fortunate boundary for New Zealand as McCullum shies away from a Morne Morkel short ball, but it follows him, comes off the edge of the bat and flies to the third man fence.

11th over – A bad over for Tsotsobe. He drags a slower ball down and McCullum crunches a cut through cover-point for four. But McCullum totally miscues a drive at the next delivery, popping the ball back to the bowler, who gets both hands to the ball but can’t hang on! McCullum has a life on 18.

10th over – Plenty of swinging and missing from Guptill as Morne Morkel bowls an excellent maiden over.

9th over – McCullum edges a heave at Tsotsobe to third man, where Morne Morkel rushes in, but can’t reach the catch, the ball going for four. Tsotsobe continues to tempt the New Zealand captain outside off stump, but the fifth ball is too full and McCullum lashes a wonderful drive through extra cover for another four.

8th over – Morne Morkel’s first over and the penultimate ball is short and wide, and Guptill dispatches it over point for four.

7th over – WICKET – Rob Nicol is out for 11, but it’s Lonwabo Tsotsobe who gets his wicket. Nicol steps across his stumps to try and flick the left-arm seamer through square-leg, misses and is plumb lbw. McCullum comes in and ends the over playing the shot Nicol should have played, working Tsotsobe off the stumps and in front of midwicket for four.

6th over – Nicol hops down the pitch and powers Steyn through mid-on for four. That will make him feel better after being struck on the back in Steyn’s previous over.

3rd over – Tsotsobe starts his second over with a short, wide delivery and Guptill cuts it crisply for four. Four balls later, another short delivery, this time on off-stump, is swatted through midwicket for four by Guptill.

2nd over – Steyn will bowl the second over and immediately has Nicol in trouble. The Aucklander wafts at the first ball and edges it for four just over a leaping Jacques Kallis at second slip. The second ball also swings away and Nicol is squared up, edging a single past gully.