South Africa 282-9 in 50 overs (Hashim Amla 119, Faff du Plessis 67, AB de Villiers 37) beat the BLACKCAPS 210 all out in 46.3 overs (Luke Ronchi 79, Dayle Steyn 35-2, Vernon Philander 27-2) by 72 runs at Bay Oval, Tauranga.
Another disappointing BLACKCAPS batting display has handed the Proteas the ANZ ODI series 2-0. Hashim Amla made a fine century, setting his team up for a big score before a collapse brought the BLACKCAPS back into the match. Unfortunately the home side's innings never really got underway until it was too late, with Luke Ronchi and Mitchell McClengahan putting on the second record 10th wicket partnership in a week to entertain the fans.
Brendon McCullum won the toss and put the Proteas in, only to find Amla in the mood to put on an ODI batting masterclass. Amla quietly dealt with everything the BLACKCAPS attack could throw at him, first with opening partner Quinton de Kock, then Faf du Plessis and AB de Villiers and was rewarded with his 16th ODI century from 127 balls.
He did offer chances, with an edge from Tim Southee flying safely between Ronchi and slip, and Dan Vettori losing a high one in the sun, both ill-afforded. Amla played flawlessly with a series of drives through the field to the fence. His fine work allowed his partners to be more aggressive with du Plessis taking 67 from 73 balls and de Villiers 37 from 25.
But when Southee bowled Amla in the 45th over, it sparked a collapse that cost the Proteas the score their start deserved. They lost six wickets for 25 runs at the death, making it to 282 when 330-plus was on the cards. Vettori was the most economical and tested the batsmen, while McClenaghan was aggressive for his two wickets. Martin Guptill was the surprise package with two overs for five runs at the death. With all the BLACKCAPS bowlers guilty of losing their length at times, it was a good comeback and gave the batsmen a chance.
It didn't happen. Guptill and Jimmy Neesham were well tied down at the start by Dale Steyn and Vernon Philander, until Guptill blinked first and was caught by Rilee Rossouw for 11. Neesham was bowled next over for 10, leaving Dean Brownlie (20) and Tom Latham (16) to try and rebuild. They put on 32 before de Villiers, who would go on to bowl six overs, took his wicket, sparking the mid order collapse.
Brendon McCullum survived one DRS lbw review to Imran Tahir but not the second, going for 12. The BLACKCAPS lost four wickets for 44 runs through the lower order until McClenaghan joined Ronchi for the 10th wicket.
The pair survived a couple of scares, then looked at home at the crease, frustrating the Proteas attack in the process. Ronchi found the boundary with aggressive strokes, while McClenaghan also showed intent, hitting Morkel for a series of boundaries. The record 10th wicket ODI partnership against all comers that had stood for 31 years was broken for the second time in a week, with even a few whispers of the BLACKCAPS getting up.
It wasn't to be, as Ronchi was eventually taken by Philander to give the Proteas the win by 72 runs and the series 2-0.
