SA secure series whitewash
by Jason Humphries 03 March 2012, 10:52
Marchant de Lange claimed a four-wicket haul as South Africa completed a series whitewash over New Zealand courtesy of a five-wicket win in the third one-day international at Eden Park in Auckland on Saturday.
Full Scorecard
Debutant De Lange claimed 4-46 off nine overs as New Zealand, after being asked to bat first, were bowled out for 206 in 47 overs.
Hashim Amla then struck a superb 76 off 89 deliveries as South Africa cruised to 208 for five with 40 balls of their innings remaining as they completed a 3-0 series win.
De Lange received superb support from left-arm spinner Robin Peterson, who grabbed 2-36, while Faf du Plessis and Amla both made impressive contributions in the field with Du Plessis claiming two catches and contributing to a run out and Amla taking three catches.
Brendon McCullum top-scored for the Black Caps with 47 off 59 balls with six fours while six other batsmen reached double figures without anyone reaching a half-century.
The 21-year-old De Lange bowled with impressive pace, control and aggression as he tore his way through New Zealand’s middle and lower order.
Play started 20 minutes late because of rain, while another 30 minutes was lost because of inclement weather during New Zealand’s innings but the Proteas had more than enough time to knock their opponents over.
South Africa went into the match without Jacques Kallis (stiff back), Justin Ontong (twisted ankle) and Morne Morkel (rested) but they made early inroads as Martin Guptill (7) was superbly caught by a diving Du Plessis at backward point, and Rob Nicol (12) was caught behind off the bowling of off-spinner Johan Botha.
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De Lange then claimed his first wicket in ODIs when he had Brendon McCullum caught at point before Kane Williamson (22) was run out at the keeper’s end after good work from Du Plessis, who swooped in from the covers.
Debutant Colin de Grandhomme (36) and James Franklin (36) then combined for the biggest partnership of the innings as they put on 55 runs for the fifth wicket.
De Grandhomme looked in good touch as he struck three sixes and a four but he was run out at the non-striker’s end after a superb throw from Albie Morkel at mid-off.
De Grandhomme’s dismissal signalled the start of a crash from New Zealand who lost their last six wickets for the addition of just 46 runs.
De Lange was instrumental in the collapse as he removed Franklin, caught at extra cover, Andrew Ellis (2), caught at slip, and Nathan McCullum (10), caught at midwicket.
South Africa re-jigged their batting order and Wayne Parnell (27) opened the batting with Amla and the experiment proved to be a success as the duo put on 80 runs for the first wicket.
Morkel was promoted to number three and he and Amla continued the good work with a second-wicket stand of 58.
The right-handed Amla brought up his 18th test fifty off 53 balls but, after striking seven fours, he became seamer Kyle Mills’s 200th ODI wicket when he top-edged a delivery and was caught by keeper Brendon McCullum.
Morkel scored an entertaining 41 which included two fours and three sixes before he was caught at deep square leg off the bowling of left-arm seamer Michael Bates but Du Plessis (19) and JP Duminy (25) made useful contributions in the middle-order to seal the win.
Teams
New Zealand - Rob Nicol, Martin Guptill, Brendon McCullum (capt, wk), Kane Williamson, Colin de Grondhomme, James Franklin, Andy Ellis, Kyle Mills, Nathan McCullum, Michael Bates, Andy McKay.
South Africa - Hashim Amla, Albie Morkel, AB de Villiers (capt, wk), JP Duminy, Faf du Plessis, Johan Botha, Robin Peterson, Wayne Parnell, Dale Steyn, Marchant de Lange, Lonwabo Tsotsobe.
