THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
KIMBERLEY, South Africa — New Zealand dramatically reversed its fortunes to win its first one-day series in South Africa with an ultimately comfortable 27-run victory in the second game at De Beers Diamond Oval on Tuesday.
Having slumped to successive innings losses to be whitewashed in the test series, the Black Caps bounced back strongly with consecutive wins in the ODIs for an unbeatable 2-0 lead in the three-game series — and a chance of a whitewash themselves.
Kane Williamson dominated New Zealand’s innings and the South African bowlers with a career-high 145 not out to help his team to 279-8, and the tourists then forced South Africa into a major collapse in its chase as the Proteas went from 167-1 to 252 all out after an incredible five run outs.
Kyle Mills was New Zealand’s best bowler with 2-28 but a combination of suicidal running and sharp out-fielding saw the back of Graeme Smith (66), Faf du Plessis (2), Farhaan Behardien (31), David Miller (14) and Rory Kleinveldt (0).
Jimmy Neesham bowled Lonwabo Tsotsobe off the first ball of the final over to seal one of the more memorable victories and biggest turnarounds for New Zealand cricket.
“I’m not going to underplay it,” captain Brendon McCullum said. “It’s a phenomenal effort. This will probably go down as one of our biggest ever wins in the one-dayers … and after a pretty tough time.”
Williamson hit 17 fours and a six off the last ball of the innings to lead New Zealand to a challenging but not insurmountable total on a tame wicket which was fairly straightforward for batting. The majority of the South African batsmen got themselves out, however, attempting to push for twos and threes or steal singles.
Six run outs would have been a record for a one-day game, while Smith’s exit, when South Africa was 167-1, was probably the turning point as the Proteas lost 9-85 under a New Zealand fielding effort that took every opportunity that came its way.
“We didn’t play well again, and to get five run outs is not acceptable,” South Africa’s stand-in captain, Faf du Plessis said.
Having walked to the wicket in the third over with still no runs on the board, Williamson shared a 127-run partnership with Grant Elliott (48) in one of the finest knocks by a New Zealander in one-dayers.
There wasn’t much else from his teammates, who made a slow start and lost quick wickets toward the end of their innings. But that didn’t matter as the relentless Williamson kept them going despite cramping in the final overs on a sweltering day in South Africa’s Northern Cape.
“It’s been tough all right,” Williamson said. “The boys really stepped up in the last two games and it’s rewarding to come out with a series win.”
Morne Morkel took 3-71 for the Proteas, but was expensive at the end of his spell when Williamson and Mills (15 not out) took 19 off his last over — helped by a pair of sixes.
South Africa had to chase without suspended captain AB de Villiers and injured batsman Hashim Amla. But despite the loss of Quinton de Kock, the hosts appeared in complete control with a commanding partnership of 129 between Smith and Colin Ingram (79).
Smith ran himself out going for a third and four other players also were caught short to ensure New Zealand ends the one-day series in a far better state than the tests, no matter what the result of the final game of the tour in Potchefstroom on Friday.