New Zealand recorded their first cricket series win over South Africa, either in one-day or Test matches, in 73 years after clinching a nail-biting match on Sunday.
New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming described the victory as ”fantastic” as his side scraped home by two runs in the rain-shortened fifth one-dayer to win the series 4-1 — with Tuesday’s final match in Napier to spare.
”It means a massive amount and you all know how much history means to us,” Fleming said afterwards.
”The quality of team we’ve beaten is very high and they’ve had the wood on us for so long. That adds to the elation of the team because we’ve been through serious beatings.
”To come back now and develop as a side, win four in a row to boot, it’s fantastic.”
South African captain Graeme Smith was gracious in defeat. ”(In) the pressure moments we’ve been outplayed and they’ve been up to it more than what we have,” he said.
”Sometimes you’ve got to look at yourself and be gracious and say we were outplayed.”
New Zealand had appeared set for a comprehensive win, with South Africa needing 28 runs off the last six balls as they chased their rain-reduced target of 178 off 29 overs.
But Jacques Kallis and Mark Boucher had other ideas, crashing three sixes between them — two from Boucher — to leave six required off the final ball to force a tie.
Kallis, who ended 58 not out for his highest score of the series, could only carve it through backward point for four, leaving fielder Kyle Mills to be mobbed by his jubilant team-mates.
The highlight of an often-spiteful contest was Chris Harris’ man-of-the-match comeback match from a 10-game absence with 55 runs off 55 balls. He also took a marvellous diving catch to remove the dangerous Herschelle Gibbs.
Morning rain had delayed the start of the match until 1.45pm, and New Zealand’s innings began in bedraggled fashion when Fleming was given out first ball by Makhaya Ntini, caught at second slip by Kallis. But television replays showed it was a poor decision by umpire Doug Cowie as the ball had hit his back leg.
The innings had an ugly moment when Kallis and Brendon McCullum had a heated mid-pitch confrontation after the pair nearly collided as McCullum tried to complete a run.
Smith had to pull Kallis away, but match referee Gundappa Viswanath later said no action had been taken.
However, South Africa never got the required momentum going in their efforts to reel in New Zealand’s 193 for eight off 33 overs.
Jacob Oram was outstanding again, taking two for one off his first three overs with the key wickets of Smith and pinch hitter Lance Klusener.
Rejuvenated New Zealander Chris Cairns chimed in by knocking over allrounder Albie Morkel and Boeta Dippenaar to leave South Africa floundering at 86 for five in the 19th over. After rain had forced a 15-minute delay, South Africa returned needing 107 off 13,2 overs.
Kallis and Boucher added 89 off 62 balls, Boucher ending 48 not out off 30 balls, but some tight bowling in the 27th and 28th overs by Mills and Daryl Tuffey effectively took the game just beyond South Africa’s reach. – Sapa-AFP