Kleinveldt bowls SA to victory
Rory Kleinveldt's three-wicket haul helped South Africa to an eight-wicket victory in the first Twenty20 international against New Zealand at Kingsmead in Durban on Friday.
View our Live Updates here
The fast bowler claimed 3-18 and was assisted by double wicket hauls from Dale Steyn (2-13), debutant Chris Morris (2-19) and Robin Peterson, whose 2-8 were the most economical figures ever in T20 cricket by a Proteas bowler.
The Black Caps rolled over for a paltry 86 in 18.2 overs -- Colin Munro top-scoring with 23 off 18 -- before the hosts then eased to the victory target with 47 balls to spare.
New captain Faf du Plessis struck an unbeaten 38 off 32, while debutant Quinton de Kock ended with a handy 28 off 23 balls to guide the Proteas to a 1-0 series lead.
There were seven debutants named between the two sides with Henry Davids, wicketkeeper De Kock and Morris starting for the first time in the green and gold.
New Zealand included newcomers Corey Anderson, Jimmy Neesham, Colin Munro and Mitchell McClenaghan in their XI.
But after winning the toss and batting first, the tourists were in heaps of trouble from the outset.
This video is not available in your region
Rob Nicol fell for just three at the start of the third over, when he edged Kleinveldt's first delivery to the keeper. Fellow opener Peter Fulton (nine) fell softly to Steyn in the next over.
Brendon McCullum (six) then top-edged Kleinveldt to Morris running back at short fine leg saw as New Zealand slumped to 19 for three inside five overs.
They fell into further woe when James Franklin's wild hook attempt took an edge on its way to De Kock for a duck, before Corey Anderson (five) miscued a rising delivery skyward to Richard Levi at mid-off -- the wicket handing Morris a first scalp in international cricket.
Peterson was introduced to the attack in the ninth over and he joined the fun by bowling Nathan McCullum for one as New Zealand fell to 36 for six.
Jimmy Neesham helped Munro take their team past 50 in the 10th over when Ryan McLaren was punished for three fours, before he too succumbed, this time chopping on Peterson for 10.
Munro, the visitors' final hope, played a poor shot to Morris that was top-edged to the bowler with the tail folding easily too, leaving the Black Caps all out for 86. Doug Bracewell boosted the total with an unbeaten 21.
In reply, left-arm paceman Mitchell McClenaghan, who impressed in the midweek warm-up game, struck early to remove Levi caught behind by McCullum for a duck.
But Davids, who batted aggressively for his 20 from 13, and Du Plessis shared a 45-run stand to set South Africa on their way.
After the former was bowled by Ronnie Hira, De Kock combined with the skipper to take the hosts home with almost eight overs to spare.
SOUTH AFRICA: RE Levi, H Davids, F du Plessis (capt), Q de Kock (wk), F Behardien, DA Miller, RJ Peterson, R McLaren, DW Steyn, CH Morris, RK Kleinveldt
NEW ZEALAND: RJ Nicol, PG Fulton, BB McCullum (capt & wk), JEC Franklin, C Munro, Corey J Anderson, NL McCullum, JDS Neesham, DAJ Bracewell, RM Hira, MJ McClenaghan
