×

We've got news for you.

Register on SowetanLIVE at no cost to receive newsletters, read exclusive articles & more.
Register now

Proteas fall to Kiwis despite gutsy half-century by Pretorius

Dwaine Pretorius’ gutsy half-century wasn’t enough to get South Africa over the line in the second one-day international against New Zealand in Christchurch on Wednesday.

No. 7 batsman Pretorius‚ who was also his team’s best bowler with figures of 2/40‚ hammered 50 off 27 balls to keep South Africa in contention.

But the home side fought back to win by six runs and deny the visitors what would have been a record 13th consecutive success in ODIs.

New Zealand‚ powered by Ross Taylor’s unbeaten 102‚ and half-centuries by Kane Williamson and Jimmy Neesham‚ totalled 289/4.

South Africa‚ who needed 15 to win when Pretorius was dismissed with the last ball of the penultimate over‚ were held to 283/9.

“Winning’s nice - it’s better than the other thing‚” Williamson said after his team had levelled a series that will resume in Wellington on Saturday.

Taylor’s ton was his 17th ODI hundred and made him New Zealand’s leading century-maker in the format.
But he might have scored it in a losing cause were it not for the stands of 104 and an unbroken 123 he shared with Williamson and Neesham.

Williamson joined Taylor after New Zealand had stumbled to 53/2 in the 13th over and scored 69.
Neesham hammered his 71 not out off 57 balls.

Among South Africa’s bowlers only Chris Morris and Pretorius got away with conceding fewer than a run-a-ball‚ but the villains of the piece for the visitors were their batsmen.

Quinton de Kock‚ who made 57‚ was their only other player to score a half-century despite four others facing more than 30 balls and forging solid starts to their innings.

Too many South Africans fell to soft dismissals‚ including AB de Villiers - who bottom-edged a slower bouncer from Trent Boult and was caught behind for 45.

Pretorius lashed four fours and two sixes in his aggressive innings‚ but South Africa’s challenge ended when he he was bowled by a full toss from Boult to end a ninth-wicket stand of 61 he shared with Andile Phehlukwayo.
Boult took 3/63. - TMG Digital.

Would you like to comment on this article?
Register (it's quick and free) or sign in now.

Speech Bubbles

Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.