FRIDAY, 4.30PM:
SOUTH Africa were almost pipped at the post by New Zealand in an electrifying limited overs match at the Gabba that realised close to 600 runs.
After scoring 300 runs in their alotted 50 overs South Africa climbed into the Kiwi batsmen with a vengeance.
The tenacious New Zealanders fought back grimly throughout their innings, ending up on 298 for nine wickets with one ball left. Had Lance Klusener not caught Dion Nash off a skier from the last ball, the Kiwis would undoubtedly have scored the three runs they needed to win.
The South Africans were once again victorious by the narrowest of margins, as was the case in Hobart last time around.
FRIDAY, 10.30AM:
SOUTH Africa became only the second side to score 300 runs in a limited-overs match at the Gabba when the totted up 300/6 in their alotted 50 overs against New Zealand on Friday. The last time a side hit that score was when Australia scored 300/5 against Pakistan at the Gabba in 1990.
After SA won the toss and elected to bat, a whirlwind opening partnership of 100 runs in 71 minutes by Gary Kirsten and Lance Klusener set the pace, with Klusener’s promotion to opener an instant success. Klusener saw his 50 (6x4s) come up after just 52 balls and the 100 partnership of 105 balls, before knocking a Nash delivery onto his stumps four balls later.
Kirsten continued to prosper and 50 (6x4s) off 66 deliveries. Under pressure, both the Kiwi bowling and fielding buckled badly and with new batsman Jacques Kallis also enjoying himself, the innings had rattled along to 141 for one at the halfway mark. Eventually caught behind by Parore off spinner Vettori in attempting a pull-cum-sweep, Kallis hit 1×4 and 1×6 in his 31 scored off 40 balls. His 67 second-wicket partnership with Kirsten took only 43 minutes.
And the slaughter continued, with Kirsten finding another swashbuckling partner in Hansie Cronje. Together vice-captain and captain made an awesome twosome, and the next 32 minutes saw another 64 runs added to the score. Kirsten also picked up his eighth one-day international 100 off only 109 balls along the way. He hit 9x4s before holing out to Nash on the square-leg fence.
Cronje sailed on to his 24th half century off 41 deliveries. It included 1×4 and 2x6s. The only bleak spot amid the mayhem was Herschelle Gibbs’ two. He was trapped leg before by part-time “dobbler” Chris Harris. Otherwise, Jonty Rhodes 23 (1×6) off 21 balls, Shaun Pollock 14 (1×4) off 15 and Pat Symcox 12 (2×4) off 5 rubbed salt into gaping Kiwi wounds.
Scoreboard in the World Series day/night cricket match between New Zealand and South Africa at the Gabba on Friday:
South Africa innings —
G Kirsten c Nash b Harris 103 (148m 115b 9×4)
L Klusener b Nash 50 (71m 56b 8×4)
J Kallis c Parore b Vettori 31 (43m 40b 1×4 1×6)
H Cronje c Harris b McMillan 55 (61m 47b 1×4 2×6)
H Gibbs lbw Harris 2 (8m 7b)
J Rhodes c Nash b McMillan 23 (27m 20b 1×6)
S Pollock not out 14 (15m 12b 1×4)
P Symcox not out 12 (7m 5b 2×4)
Extras (5lb 5w) 10
Total (for 6 wkts) 300 — 50 overs (191 mins)
Fall of wickets: 1/100 2/167 3/231 4/241 5/269 6/277
Bowling: O’Connor 6-0-50-0 (2w), Cairns 7-0-37-0, Nash 10-1-52-1 (2w), Harris 10-0-41-2, Vettori 7-0-46-1, Astle 5-0-42-0, McMillan 5-0-27-2 (1w).
Batting time: 210 minutes. Overs: 50.
New Zealand Innings:
Craig Spearman c Symcox b Pollock 11
Nathan Astle c Richardson b Donald 29
Matthew Horne c McMillan b Kallis 42
Stephen Fleming c Richardson b Donald 2
Craig McMillan c Richardson b Donald 4
Chris Harris c McMillan b Kallis
10
Chris Cairns run out 64
Adam Parore c Symcox b Donald 67
Dion Nash c Klusener b Pollock 38
Daniel Vettori not out 11
Extras (3b, 11lb, 4w, 2nb) 20
TOTAL: 298 for nine
Fall of wickets: 24, 84, 88, 94, 97, 124, 197, 266, 298.
Did not bat: Shayne O’Connor
Bowling: Shaun Pollock 10-1-58-2 (1w), Lance Klusener 10-0-55-0 (1nb), Allan Donald 10-1-43-4 (1nb), Brian McMillan 8-0-52-0, Jacques Kallis 8-1-49-2 (2w), Pat Symcox 4-0-27-0 (1w).
Batting time: 215 minutes. Overs: 50
Result: South Africa won by 2 runs.
Man-of-the-match: Gary Kirsten (South Africa).