In short
South Africa showed why they're the best ODI team in the world.
An AB de Villiers (85) masterclass with the bat and a ruthless display with the ball helped the visitors to a commanding 159 run victory in game three of the ANZ ODI series.
Colin de Grandhomme took 2-40 and was 35 not out at the end, but it wasn't enough to get stave of a heavy defeat for the BLACKCAPS who were bowled out for 112 in reply to the Proteas 271 run total.
You can’t beat Wellington on a good day
So the saying the goes and boy did it ring true on Saturday. A warm clear day in the capital saw a 15 thousand strong crowd pack into Westpac Stadium for the third instalment of this gripping series.
Bring the heat
Get the speed guns out! Both sides went with their quick bowlers with Lockie Ferguson and Kagiso Rabada coming into the Xls in place of Ish Sodhi and Chris Morris respectively on a pitch which looked to have good pace and bounce.
De Kock off the top
After losing his opening partner Hashim Amla cheaply, Quinton de Kock (68) once again took up the attack. He slapped and smashed his way through to a run-a-ball half century before succumbing to the man on the deep square leg fence for the third straight game. Another good catch by Neesham on the run.
Gentle swingers
Playing the role of fifth bowling option, few expected Colin de Grandhomme to be the pick of the bowlers. His accuracy and away swing was a potent cocktail which took care of de Kock and Faf du Plessis (36) as he ended up ten overs with the impressive figures of 2-40. Top effort and allowed Williamson the luxury of rotating his strike bowlers throughout the innings.
Super Southee in the field
Claimed a tough low chance at mid-off to dismiss du Plessis before a running JP Duminy out. It was a sharp piece of work from the big opening bowler who attacked the ball from backward point and threw down the stumps at the bowlers end to catch the little left hander short by a metre.
Chance
When Lockie Ferguson knocked over Dwaine Pretorius' castle, the South African tail was exposed in the 39th over. At 180-6 the visitors were vulnerable and the BLACKCAPS had a chance to push through them. De Villiers had other ideas!
Freak
We don’t mind waxing lyrical about AB de Villiers! The right handed genius was one again on show at Westpac Stadium on Saturday, glueing the Protea innings together despite losing partners at the other end. His 85 from 80 balls was watchful at the start, masterful in the middle and pure power to end. He got his side through to a good total and in the process became the fastest player to 9,000 ODI runs, passing the mark in his 205th innings and taking the record off India great Sourav Ganguly (228).
271
A good total on a wicket which definitely had something in it for the bowlers. If it wasn’t for de Villiers the Proteas may have been bowled out for something in the low 200s. The visitors late flourish secured them the momentum heading into the second innings.
Rough start
A good start was imperative if the BLACKCAPS were going to have a chance at chasing down 271. They didn’t get it… Tom Latham slashed one to point and Dean Brownlie feathered through an edge off a Kagiso Rabada out-swinger, as the hosts slumped to 11-2.
The old firm
No better pair to steady the ship than captain Kane Williamson and his lieutenant Ross Taylor. The pair average at least a 50 run partnership each time they bat together and the responsibility again fell on their shoulders. They worked hard, but South Africa’s up front bowling was tight and misely. They ground their way to a 37 run stand in 12 overs before Williamson (23) chopped on to Adile Phehlukwayo.
Four nasty fastys
The South African four pronged pace attack were lethal on the quickening wicket. They all ran in and bowled fast, accurate spells, picking up eight wickets between them and stunting any BLACKCAPS momentum. Rabada, Parnell, Phehlukwayo and Pretorius - too good.
Bad to worse
The BLACKCAPS batsmen just couldn’t take a trick as they battled the South African seam attack and a climbing required run rate. Taylor missed a straight one, Broom got a goodie from Rabada, Neesham was caught and bowled and Santner was castled as the BLACKCAPS fell to a sickly 77-7.
De Grandhomme again
If it wasn’t for Colin de Grandhomme’s unbeaten 34 the BLACKCAPS would not have passed 100. Let’s not dwell on that too long…de Grandhomme showed off his trademark power game in a run-a-ball knock that featured two glorious sixes and a couple of fours. Capped off a good game for the all-rounder whose stocks continue to rise.
Move on
“It was not very good at all really. As a batting unit we need to be much better at sucking up the pressure. It was a disappointing performance from us but we do need to move on quickly as we’ve got another game in three days time.” - Kane Williamson, post game.
Game four of the ANZ ODI series is in Hamilton on Wednesday.
