South Africa take series with comfortable win

New Zealand fall short by 33 runs in third Twenty20.

PORT ELIZABETH: Henry Davids hit his second successive half-century and Aaron Phangiso took three wickets as South Africa beat New Zealand by 33 runs in the series-deciding third and final Twenty20 international at St George’s Park yesterday.

Davids struck 68 in a South African total of 179 for six and Phangiso dismissed New Zealand’s big guns, Martin Guptill and Brendon McCullum in successive overs, effectively ending the touring team’s challenge. New Zealand finished with 146 for nine.

The slightly-built Davids, who made his debut in the first match of the series, hit seven fours and two sixes in a 51-ball innings.

New Zealand lost Rob Nicol in the first over but briefly entertained hopes of victory as Guptill and McCullum, the team’s leading batsmen, put on 47 off 37 balls for the second wicket. However, Guptill chipped a simple catch to midwicket off the last ball of the over and McCullum followed in Phangiso’s next over when he was caught at wide long-off.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 27^th, 2012.