Twenty 20 Blog

South Africa recorded a one-run victory over New Zealand in the final match of Group D in the World Twenty20.

Both sides had already qualified but New Zealand opted to field and after Graeme Smith and Jacques Kallis shared 49 South Africa were limited to 128-7.

Acting captain Brendon McCullum hit six fours in his 57 off 54 balls in reply and looked to be leading his side home.

But the Kiwis slipped behind, 15 were needed from the final over, four from the final ball, and it was not to be.

The South Africans have been widely tipped to lift the trophy but produced a curious batting performance having been put in on a chilly, overcast evening at the home of cricket.

It was the smallest first innings total in a completed Twenty20 international, but the fact that they defended it will be noted by South Africa’s rivals in the tournament.

Smith and Kallis gave them a solid start, taking 47 from the six overs of fielding restrictions.

There were two 12-run overs, Kallis backing away to slice Kyle Mills for six over point and Smith with two fours in a less than sparkling opening over from gentle slow medium pace of Brendon Diamanti.

But Kallis was run out by a superb pick up and direct hit from McCullum close in and three wickets quickly fell for two runs in 13 balls.

AB de Villiers, dropped down to six, played some exquisite strokes and revived the innings with 15 from eight balls but was dislodged by another direct hit, this time from Martin Guptill in the deep.

JP Duminy hit two late sixes, one of which went into the disco constructed for this event between the tiers near the Mound Stand at mid-wicket.

Those late runs were to prove decisive, but for much of the New Zealand innings when McCullum was at the crease they looked on course.

The powerful right-hander was particularly prolific backing away to hit through the off-side but lost partners regularly as South Africa’s renowned fighting spirit remained.

Ross Taylor shared 56 in 11 overs with his captain for the third wicket but injured a hamstring pushing for a second run and had to call for a runner.

He added in the next three and a half overs before he was bowled through the gate by a quicker, full ball from stocky left-arm spinner Roelof van der Merwe, leaving 47 needed from 33 balls.

In his next over Van der Merwe captured the key wicket of McCullum, who was beaten in the flight and way out of his ground, allowing Mark Boucher a routine stumping.

With 10 needed from three balls, Jacob Oram sliced to long-off where Kallis almost took a spectacular catch diving forward, only to juggle and spill the ball as he rolled on the turf.

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