New Zealand A have beaten South Africa by 15 runs to take third place in the Twenty20 Emerging Players Tournament in Brisbane.
Captain Jamie How opted to bat first after a delayed start saw play reduced to 18 overs per innings. New Zealand put on 148 for six and then restricted South Africa to 133 for five.
The New Zealand total was set up by massive second wicket partnership of 101 between Jamie How and Dean Brownlie.
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How finished unbeaten on 71 from 51 deliveries, hitting the rope on just one occasion but clearing it five times.
Brownlie, who maintained a strike-rate of 143.59, struck 56 before departing with the score on 105.
South African got off to the perfect reply with openers Reeza Hendricks and Davy Jacobs putting on 116 runs for the first wicket.
Strike bowler Neal Wagner took two wickets in 16th over to swing the match New Zealand’s way. Hendricks was his first victim, bowled for 55 before snaring Vaughn van Jaarsveld for a duck.
Michael Bates then picked up Jacobs in the next over for 61 and South Africa were unable to recover.
Wagner finished with the best figures of three for 30 while Bates chimed in with two for 21.
New Zealand A narrowly missed the final with the Australian Institute of Sport sneaking through on net run rate.
Australian Institute of Sport went on to beat India by 29 runs to take out the Twenty20 competition.
The 50-over round starts on Saturday with New Zealand taking on hosts AIS.
