1st ODI: De Villiers’ guides South Africa home

Captain hits unbeaten ton in six-wicket win over New Zealand.

WELLINGTON:

South Africa captain AB de Villiers compiled a superb century to lead his side to an easy six-wicket win over New Zealand in the opening One-Day International (ODI).

De Villiers was unbeaten on 106 with Faf du Plessis on 66 as South Africa overhauled New Zealand’s 253 for nine with 28 balls to spare. Although the target was not difficult, South Africa wavered at the start of their innings with Hashim Amla (eight), Graeme Smith (nine) and Jacques Kallis (13) falling in quick succession to be 35 for three.

But from there on de Villiers steadied the chase and brought things under control although the South Africa captain played down the comprehensive nature of the win.

“We did really well in the field to restrict them to 250,” he said. “They had a couple of partnerships going but they didn’t extend them and we kept picking up wickets at the right times. I thought I constructed my innings quite well, which was important in the conditions and on this pitch. We finished with a win but, keeping our feet on the ground, we have two more big games to come.”

‘We needed someone to get a hundred’

New Zealand captain Brendan McCullum, on the other hand, insisted that he had made the right call to bat first after he won the toss and had ‘no regrets’ about the decision.

“We thought 250 was competitive,” he said. “In hindsight, we needed someone to get a big hundred, like de Villiers did for them. You can’t allow world-class players to get into the game, and we allowed him to do just that.”

De Villiers combined with JP Duminy (46) in a 90-run stand for the fourth wicket, which was broken when Rob Nicol tossed up a full delivery and was rewarded with a simple caught-and-bowled opportunity. South Africa were then 125 for four in the 31st over when du Plessis  joined his captain and they dismantled the New Zealand bowling attack with ease, compiling 129 runs over the next 14 overs.

McCullum, Williamson shine for Kiwis

Earlier, the New Zealand innings was built around a 79-run stand by McCullum (56) and Kane Williamson (55) for the third wicket after the hosts had started slowly, creeping to 75 for two in the first 20 overs.

The next 75 runs took less than 13 overs but the loss of McCullum, and the quick departure of big-hitting Jesse Ryder (six) soon after put the brakes on the New Zealand charge. Tsotsobe was the most economical of the South Africa bowlers with two for 41, while Robin Peterson and Kallis both finished with two for 45.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 26^th, 2012.