South Africa’s ‘bowling plans’ leaked on social media

New Zealand are now third on the worldwide Cricket Council one-day rankings list, one point ahead of fourth-placed South Africa.

Opener Hashim Amla returned to form for the home side, scoring 124 in their 304-7 after being asked to bat before a meritorious Black Caps chase ended with their dismissal for 284 with 11 balls to spare. South Africa’s top order was among the runs in the T20s but AB de Villiers, its captain, has rued its inability to adjust to an uncharacteristic Centurion pitch in the second T20I, which was slower than normal.

It is pertinent to mention here both the teams are colliding in 1 ODI match after World cup epic Semi-Final match.

The teams already have some familiarity with each other having drawn 1-1 in their recent Twenty20 worldwide series. You can see that from the team they brought here. Even on an early season surface that did not seem to have the same pace, bounce and carry as a South African strip normally does, that was not enough.

Faf du Plessis was injured for this encounter as well but the South African bowlers did well to choke the Kiwi batsmen. “It was great that he [Guptill] could still come out and play a little hand”, Williamson said.

New Zealand had to score at run-a-ball to reach the target.

Hashim Amla’s heroic 124 was the highlight of the evening.

With Jimmy Neesham’s departure for 41 – Wiese’s second wicket – the task was made near impossible when Colin Munro and Nathan McCullum went in successive overs, and it was easy pickings for Steyn and Kagiso Rabada to wrap things up in successive deliveries. It was a good foundation given by Morne (van Wyk) and Hash (Amla); Rilee (Rossouw) is a positive player but had to stick it out today.

The hosts were beaten in their most recent ODI series in Bangladesh in July but are bolstered by the return of Dale Steyn, Vernon Philander and Imran Tahir.

Rossouw hit six fours and three sixes himself in an impressive knock before his stumps were carved in half by McClenaghan. Van Wyk lofted the left-handed bowler over the covers, behind square and then into the off-side stands to start South Africa’s acceleration.