New Zealand clinch the series

New Zealand 193 for 8 (Harris 55) beat South Africa 175 for 5 (Kallis 58*, Boucher 48*) by 2 runs (D/L method)
Scorecard

Chris Harris: unveiled a range of strokes that took the initiative away from South Africa © Getty Images

On a wet day in Auckland, South Africa's brave but vain run-chase was anything but damp. Though New Zealand triumphed by two runs, they were given a terrific scare by Mark Boucher and Jacques Kallis, who peppered the stands in an action-packed last over. New Zealand put up 193 for 8 in the stipulated 33 overs, but the rain reappeared while South Africa chased, reducing the target to 178 in 29 overs.

With wickets falling regularly, the game slipped away steadily from South Africa until Kyle Mills nearly handed it back on a platter in a nightmarish last over. Mills delivered the first two balls of the game's last over without incident. With South Africa requiring 27 in four balls, the game was in New Zealand's bag, unless Mills bowled a no ball or a wide. He obliged, and Boucher hit a six, followed by another six and a single. That brought Kallis on strike, and he hit the last of the day's 10 sixes, and stroked the final ball for only four runs. New Zealand had won not only their fourth consecutive game, but also their first series against these opponents.

Boucher's team was in a bit of bother when he took guard, with the big hitters back in the pavillion. Herschelle Gibbs, Graeme Smith, Lance Klusener, Albie Morkel and Boeta Dippenaar had all been dismissed, and to add to South Africa's misery, the rain had made an unwanted appearance, making the challenging target of 194 even harder. The revised target was 178, and the team had four fewer overs to get there. But Boucher fought the bowlers, the weather, and his team's inability to score effectively, and Kallis tagged along. The scoring rate picked up, and Kallis began to look for quick runs - the kind that didn't come by often in the middle overs after Klusener's dismissal. Together, both batsmen gave the bowlers the charge and picked up enough runs to give New Zealand a scare in the final over.

But had South Africa got off to a better start, or even sustained their aggression for a little longer, they could have been on their way to squaring the series. After playing out the first two overs watchfully, Gibbs flayed Daryl Tuffey for two boundaries and then edged one more to third man. Before he could do any more damage, he struck out at Tuffey once more and Chris Harris pulled off an adjective-defying catch at point.

With a brief to reduce the target as quickly as possible, Klusener set about his task with gusto. Two fours were followed by a massive six over midwicket, and Klusener was back to doing his thing. But when Stephen Fleming brought Jacob Oram into the attack, Klusener could not resist a mad hoick, and Mills caught him at the midwicket boundary (40 for 2).

Morkel joined Smith but could barely touch the ball. Watching this, Smith (15) grew antsier by the ball until he could contain himself no longer. He hit out at Oram, missed, and was on his way back (48 for 3). Oram had bowled cleverly and denied the batsmen width, and ended with only four runs taken off his first four overs.

Runs dried up, and Morkel was the next to go when Chris Cairns bowled a slow delivery that rattled the stumps. Dippenaar fell soon after (86 for 5) to an identical delivery, and it was left to Kallis and Boucher to do the rest.

Harris had come in at a score worse than that (73 for 5), and unveiled a new technique, a new attitude, and a range of strokes that took the initiative away from South Africa. Within two balls of taking guard, Harris was offered a wide long-hop by Morkel, and you know where those go. From there on, he played through the covers nonchalantly when the faster bowlers were on, and when Nicky Boje bowled, swung him over midwicket for six. It finally came to an end when Shaun Pollock took a sharp return catch, and Harris returned with 55 to his name.

But earlier, it was Makhaya Ntini who did most of the damage. New Zealand got off to an unfortunate start when Fleming was caught behind off his first ball. The ball had missed the bat and deflected off Fleming's back pad to slip where it was taken brilliantly by Kallis. Cairns walked in, and Hamish Marshall rode his luck to score 18 before Ntini struck again. Scott Styris and Craig McMillan began with a bang and hit Klusener for twelve in an over, but premeditated shots put paid to their chances, and Klusener had two wickets to his name.

However, Cairns kept going and kept the scoreboard ticking over. While he was there, the innings was in safe hands. But Morkel induced a lazy push that found Smith at mid-off (73 for 5). Oram and McCullum came and went, but Harris soldiered on in his comeback game and played a match - and series - winning innings.