South Africa storm to 4-0 series win

South Africa 140 for 5 (Smith 66) beat New Zealand 215 (Vincent 66, Hall 4-22) by 5 wickets (D/L method)
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
How they were out

South Africa completed a 4-0 series win with a five-wicket win under the Duckworth-Lewis method at Centurion Park. Graeme Smith put them firmly on course with a thumping 66, cruelly exposing the flaws in New Zealand's game which have hampered them all series. South Africa's march to victory was interrupted by one of Pretoria's infamous thunderstorms but, despite losing some wickets carelessly, the result was never in doubt. Andrew Hall was the star in the field, taking a career-best 4 for 23 as New Zealand's batting again struggled to post a defendable total.

Smith made his intentions clear from the outset of the run chase, latching onto anything loose from Shane Bond and Kyle Mills - and often thrashing the good balls to the boundary for good measure. As if to confirm the growing confidence in his game he also walked across his stumps and came down the track to the seamers.

With Smith taking the New Zealand attack to the cleaners sparks started to fly on the field, as well as in the sky, with tempers threatening to boil over in the Kiwi camp as the end of a frustrating tour approaches. Mills, who has often had words with Smith, engaged in a full-on conversation with some distinctly colourful language. Smith tried hard not to smile as he continued to send the ball rocketing to the boundary. At one point Stephen Fleming dragged his bowler away after a caught behind appeal was turned down, then at the end of the over Steve Bucknor stepped in to calm the situation.

When AB de Villiers fell to Mills there was further evidence of the bad-blood between the two teams as Fleming mimicked Smith's often elaborate celebrations. Smith's departure meant the series would finish without an individual century, confirming that the batting of both sides has fallen below their top standards.

As the heavens opened and the ground was pelted by hailstones - with the South African innings an over short of the required 20 mark - there was a chance they would be denied a winning finish. But Centurion Park drains quickly and New Zealand had to reluctantly take the field again. South Africa played some slap-happy shots before Mark Boucher clubbed the winning boundary - to complete a fine match after snaffling five catches and a run out.

South Africa's stint in the field was dominated by Hall's performance and Lou Vincent, who cracked an explosive 66. However, other than Vincent some of the cricket from New Zealand was that of a side who would rather be on a long haul trip back to Auckland.

Following Fleming's dismissal to the second ball Vincent and Nathan Astle took out their frustrations with some expansive shots. There was clearly more luck than judgement involved but the thinking must have been that things couldn't really go downhill. Taking such a carefree approach to batting is always risky, and Astle succumbed after a brief rain break.

Vincent, though, refused to rein himself in and continued on his merry way while a feisty battle with Andre Nel developed. Nel is never the quietest of quick bowlers at the best of times and being pulled for six is guaranteed to get the verbals flying. Vincent didn't let the chat get the better of him, passing fifty from 52 balls before receiving a let-off when Pollock grassed a sitter at mid-on from a top-edged pull. However, just as New Zealand thought they were getting a slice of luck Hall sprang up to bring a dose of reality.

In the blink of an eye 134 for 3 became 152 for 7 as Hall found enough movement to trouble the batsmen and keep Boucher busy behind the stumps. Despite some defiant blows from Mills and Bond the New Zealanders were already thinking about whether it would be chicken or beef on their flight home. They have certainly made a meal out of this series and now have some serious questions to answer to regain their standing as an outside bet for 2007 World Cup.

Stephen Fleming c Boucher b Pollock 0 (0 for 1)
Pushed at a delivery slanted across him

Nathan Astle c Hall b Langeveldt 37 (75 for 2)
Sliced a lofted drive to deep cover

Hamish Marshall c Boucher b Langeveldt 3 (91 for 3)
Thin edge to an away-swinger

Scott Styris c Boucher b Hall 19 (134 for 4)
Ball held its line, batsman squared-up

Lou Vincent c de Villiers b Hall 66 (141 for 5)
Delivery stopped, lobbed to cover, excellent take diving forward

Craig McMillan lbw b Hall 9 (152 for 6)
Missed a work to leg, clipping the bails

Daniel Vettori run out (Boucher) 0 (152 for 7)
Ball dropped behind him, run out by a distance

James Franklin c Boucher b Nel 12 (185 for 8)
Thick edge, smart take diving to left

Brendan McCullum c Boucher b Hall 27 (187 for 9)
Hint of away movement, tried to glide to third man

Kyle Mills c Prince b Ntini 19 (215 all out
Carved out to deep cover

AB de Villiers c Fleming b Mills 11 (61 for 1)
Driving on the up, thick egde to lone slip

Graeme Smith b Franklin 66 (103 for 2)
Inside edge after being cramped for room

Jacques Kallis c Fleming b Vettori 15 (106 for 3)
Heave to leg, edge to slip

Albie Morkel c Astle b Styris 5 (113 for 4)
Clubbed to mid-wicket

Ashwell Prince st McCullum b Vettori (131 for 5)
Left the ball then dragged his toe, very close call from third umpire with plenty of doubt