New Zealanders Enjoy Morale-Boosting Win Ahead of T20 Series

New Zealanders Enjoy Morale-Boosting Win Ahead of T20 Series

Brendon McCullum hit 32 off 38 balls in New Zealand's warm-up match ahead of the three-match T20 series against South Africa.

©REUTERS/Dinuka Liyanawatte. Picture Supplied by Action Images

New Zealanders 140-8 (Abbott 4-16) beat
South Africa A 116-9 by 24 runs
T20 warm-up match, Pietermaritzburg

Two of the uncapped players in New Zealand’s Twenty20 squad played starring roles as they beat South Africa A in their solitary warm-up match before the first Twenty20 International on Friday.

Auckland’s Colin Munro top scored for them in a stuttering batting performance with 39 off 27 balls, while his state team-mate Mitchell McClenaghan took three cheap South Africa wickets.

Only Vaughn van Jaarsveld showed any stomach with the bat for the hosts, with many of the batsmen playing rash shots despite being faced with a mediocre total. McClenaghan struck in each of his first three overs, bowling Davy Jacobs and Stiaan van Zyl and having Dane Vilas caught by Brendon McCullum.

Mangaliso Mosehle and South Africa A captain Justin Ontong - who was today handed a recall to the full South Africa squad - were then both bowled by left-arm spinner Ronnie Hira to make it 41 for five.

Van Jaarsveld tried his best and had reached 43 before being caught and bowled by Michael Bates to give the tourists their eighth wicket. Aaron Phangiso then hit a couple of meaty blows and was left stranded on 17 off eight balls when the overs ran out with South Africa A on 116 for nine.

The Black Caps all-rounders, Nathan McCullum, Rob Nicol, and the uncapped pair of Corey Anderson and Jimmy Neesham all bowled tidily, to give new captain Brendon McCullum hope going into the three-match series, which begins in Durban.

Munro had earlier continued his excellent recent form - which included an unbeaten 269 off 252 balls against Wellington last month - and, having been born in Durban, will feel at home should he be selected in the starting eleven on Friday. The 25 year-old was the only one of the New Zealand batsmen to look consistently fluent, despite McCullum also passing 30, as they posted a modest 140 for eight.

Dolphins seam-bowler Kyle Abbott was the main cause of their problems, taking four for 16 off his four overs, while Hardus Viljoen (one for 20) and David Wiese (one for seven) also bowled tidily. Aaron Phangiso, who is hoping to make his South Africa debut on Friday, returned figures of none for 25 from three overs.

© Cricket World 2012