How And McCullum Lead New Zealand To Victory
Brendon McCullum, who is leading New Zealand's charge in Port Elizabeth.
©REUTERS/Rogan Ward (SOUTH AFRICA) Picture Supplied by Action Images
Kyle Mills, who again ripped through South Africa's top order.
©REUTERS/Rogan Ward (SOUTH AFRICA) Picture Supplied by Action Images
209-9 (Pollock 52, Mills 3-43, Gillespie 3-55)
New Zealand 210-3 (McCullum 81, How 76) in Port Elizabeth
New Zealand won by 7 wickets and level the series 1-1 with one to play
Brendon McCullum and Jamie How's 154-run second-wicket partnership put New Zealand on course for a comprehensive series-levelling seven-wicket win against South Africa in the second one-day international in Port Elizabeth.
Overcoming the early loss of Lou Vincent, run out for nine, McCullum smacked one six and was quick to punish anything off line or length, being particularly harsh on Andre Nel and he found a willing partner in Jamie How as the pair added a combative partnership for the second wicket.
McCullum reached his seventh one-day international half-century shortly before How brought up the century partnership with a fine straight drive for four. How's own fifty soon followed as New Zealand took advantage of a South African bowling attack that lacked discipline.
It took a run out to dismiss McCullum with a brilliant throw from substitute Dale Steyn finding him fractionally short of his ground for 81. How was trapped in front by Charl Langeveldt for 76 with New Zealand all but home.
That left Scott Styris (23 not out) and Ross Taylor (13 not out) to wrap up proceedings, and in the process beat South Africa on South African soil for only the second time ever in ODIs, and the first time at all on this tour.
Earlier, a half-century from Shaun Pollock and some blistering late hitting from Andre Nel helped South Africa score 209 for nine despite New Zealand making a fine start and reducing them to 53 for four early on.
Kyle Mills picked up the wickets of both South African openers Graeme Smith and Herschelle Gibbs for ducks as New Zealand made a flying start to the second one-day international in Port Elizabeth.
Both men were caught in the slips before Mark Gillespie bowled AB De Villiers, who had been one of the heroes in Durban, for eight. JP Duminy, who had also played so well in Durban, was the next to fall, caught by Lou Vincent off of Jeetan Patel for 23.
Jacques Kallis, who had played a patient innings of 26 from 60 balls then holed out to Ross Taylor in the deep to give Jacob Oram a wicket.
Mark Boucher and Kallis came together with the score on 66 for five and more than doubled their side's score with a partnership of 89 before Boucher departed, caught Patel, bowled Vettori for 48. Pollock faced 74 balls for his 52 before he was undone by a searing yorker from Mark Gillespie which clean bowled him.
Nel smashed 30 from just balls including two massive sixes to take South Africa past the 200 mark despite the best efforts of Mark Gillespie, who finished with three for 55, to Mills' three for 43.
South Africa won the toss and chose to bat, with Gibbs coming back in place of Morne Van Wyk while New Zealand dropped Chris Martin in favour of spinner Patel.
© Cricket World 2007
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