A sparkling innings of 73 by big-hitting Justin Kemp saw South Africa win the first Standard Bank one-day international against New Zealand by two wickets in Bloemfontein on Sunday, to take a 1-0 lead in the five-match series.
As so often happens in this form of the game, the nearly 7 000 fans, still celebrating the Cheetahs’ Currie Cup win on Saturday, were left on tenterhooks until the final over.
Chasing a target of 250, South Africa got off to a good start, with 17 runs coming off the first over — although these were mainly the result of wides bowled by paceman Shane Bond. His very first ball, which was a wide, went for four. Another wide also ended up on the boundary, and the South African fans basked in the anticipated glory.
But South Africa lost wickets at regular intervals, and fell behind the required run rate. Boeta Dippenaar was first to go — given out lbw to Bond — in the third over, and Jacques Kallis, who earlier had celebrated joining the elite club of all-rounders who have taken 200 wickets and scored 2 000 runs in limited-overs cricket, faced just five balls before he was bowled by Kyle Mills without having scored.
Skipper Graeme Smith was looking good until he tried to drive a delivery from Andre Adams, only to see the ball hit his wicket. He made 19 runs off 24 balls, and hit four fours.
Hopes were pinned on Cape Cobra teammates Herschelle Gibbs and Ashwell Prince, but the introduction of spin-bowler Daniel Vettori and ”dibbly-dobbly” Nathan Astle saw them tied down. They put on 44 runs before Prince was bowled by Astle for 31, including five boundaries.
Mark Boucher joined Gibbs at the crease, and they scored 32 runs together, but Gibbs, who had been growing increasingly frustrated, slashed at a ball from Bond and was brilliantly caught by Hamish Marshall.
South African hopes were raised again when Boucher and Justin Kemp put on 65 runs at nearly a run a ball. Kemp, who was dropped by Astle on eight, made the New Zealander regret his error when he smashed him for 22 off one over, with two fours and two huge sixes.
Daniel Vettori claimed Boucher’s scalp with a slower ball — Boucher swept at it too early, and had to go back to the pavilion with his score on 33.
Kemp and Shaun Pollock took South Africa to within three runs of victory, scoring 65 runs off 52 balls. Kemp’s sixth international 50 came up off 49 balls, including two fours and three sixes.
But with victory in sight, Pollock, trying to hit a six, was caught by Lou Vincent for 37. Two balls later, Kemp was caught by Adams for 73.
Many of the spectators thought they were about to witness a replay of the tied match against England in Bloemfontein last summer, but Nicky Boje — who had been substituted for Makhaya Ntini — and Charl Langeveldt kept their heads and saw South Africa safely through.
Earlier, Stephen Fleming won the toss and chose to bat. Andre Nel was the cream of the South African bowlers, with three wickets for 42 runs. Fleming made 45 off 48 balls, and Craig McMillan made 66 off 75.
The next match is a day-nighter at Newlands in Cape Town on Friday. — Sapa