Amla Guides South Africa To Series Win

Amla Guides South Africa To Series Win

Amla pulls during his match-winning innings of 92.

©REUTERS/Anthony Phelps. Picture Supplied by Action Images

South Africa 231-4 (Amla 92) beat
New Zealand 230 (M Morkel 5-38) by 6 wickets
Second One-Day International, Napier
Scorecard

Hashim Amla’s 92 from 107 balls ensured that South Africa experienced few problems in overhauling New Zealand’s below-par 230 in the second One-Day International in Napier.

The home side had recovered well after the early loss of Rob Nicol for 11, but Morne Morkel extracted extravagant bounce from a hard surface to run through the lower order and do the bulk of the damage during a collapse of seven for 55. 

Martin Guptill (58 from 73 balls) and Brendon McCullum had shared a second-wicket stand of 107 to give the Kiwis hope on a pitch that was excellent for batting, but McCullum’s dismissal for 85 from 96 balls triggered a chain of events from which New Zealand were unable to recover.

Their bowlers did give them early hope, with Kyle Mills having Jacques Kallis caught behind in the third over, but Amla shared productive partnerships of 69 with Francois du Plessis (34 from 25); 87 with JP Duminy (43 from 39); and 25 with AB de Villiers before falling to Tarun Nethula’s leg-spin. Justin Ontong (17 not out from 19) partnered de Villiers through to the end as South Africa wrapped up the series victory with 70 balls to spare.

The final match is in Auckland on Saturday, with the first of three Tests beginning in Dunedin four days later.