Proteas thump Black Caps in first T20
South Africa overcame a poor start with the ball to comfortably beat New Zealand by six wickets in the first T20 International in Durban on Friday.
The Proteas chased down a target of 152, and won with more than two overs to spare, thanks to 48 from Hashim Amla and a pair of thirties from stand-in captain AB De Villiers and Rilee Rossouw.
The home side were never really bothered in their pursuit of the modest score even though they lost Morne van Wyk in the sixth over for 19.
De Villers, who was standing in as skipper for the injured Faf du Plessis, and Amla then put on 50 in just under six overs to stop any thought of a Black Caps upset.
When De Villiers fell in the 11th over, for 33, Rossouw came in and took the attack to the Kiwi bowlers scoring 38 off 20 balls to virtually seal the match.
Amla was out with just five runs needed to win trying to go for a big hit to finish the match in style. David Miller and Farhaan Behardien saw the hosts to an easy win.
Earlier the Black Caps got off to cracking start with the bat after De Villiers sent them in. Captain Kane Williamson smashed 42 from 21 balls as the visitors scored 68 in their first eight overs before losing a wicket.
Williamson was out stumped off spinner Aaron Phangiso and from their New Zealand lost a cluster of wickets to stem the momentum.
They eventually stuttered to 151 for eight in their 20 overs. Phangiso, David Wiese and Kagiso Rabada took two wickets each.
The second and final T20 is on Sunday at Centurion. The teams will contest three ODIs.
Latest
-
NewsTom Westley and Essex have their sights set on Royal London Cup silverware
Essex, who won the domestic Twenty20 competition in 2019, have only two players in The Hundred.
-
NewsMatt Parkinson stars at Manchester Originals have Birmingham Phoenix in a spin
The England leg spinner’s four for nine set up the victory for Jos Buttler’s side.
-
NewsHaseeb Hameed hundred helps Nottinghamshire defeat Warwickshire
Essex and Lancashire remain perfect in Group Two after two games.
-
NewsHundred organisers hit out at ‘unacceptable’ abuse
Players have been targeted since the launch of cricket’s new format.
-
NewsJoe Root admits friendship will be set aside against Ben Stokes in The Hundred
The England pair face off with Trent Rockers and Northern Superchargers on Monday.
-
NewsLocal hero Jonny Bairstow stuns Headingley with impressive Welsh Fire knock
Yorkshire wicketkeeper-batsman Bairstow, captaining the Fire, hit 56 from 36 balls in The Hundred clash.
-
News‘He’s a fantastic asset’ – Joe Root excited to see Rashid Khan in Hundred action
The England Test captain and Afghanistan leg-spinner are team-mates at Trent Rockets.
-
News5 things we learned from the opening games of The Hundred
The near 8,000 who turned up for night one represented the biggest ever UK crowd for a women’s match.
-
NewsFirst-pick Rashid Khan proud to be flying flag for Afghanistan in The Hundred
The leg-spinner is excited about the prospect of bowling 10 balls in a row when he turns out for Trent Rockets.
-
NewsAdil Rashid looking forward to coming up against Jonny Bairstow in The Hundred
When they face off on Saturday the Yorkshire and England team-mates will be on opposite sides for the first time.