De Villiers' injury scare

As he had in Hamilton, Dean Brownlie settled nicely into his innings. He produced a couple of superbly-timed cover drives and, after speaking on the eve of the game of trying to make the most of every chance he gets in this side, looked set for a substantial score. Then, on 34, he was beaten by a delivery from Dwaine Pretorius which gripped significantly off the pitch and was given lbw by Paul Reiffel. Brownlie didn't linger long, and didn't appear to ask Kane Williamson whether it was worth a review, but subsequent replays showed it was sliding down leg side.

In the sixth over, Williamson pushed the ball towards mid-off and scampered a quick single. It was a safe run, but as ever AB de Villiers was fully committed in the field, diving and trying to flick the ball back to the stumps. But then he didn't get up, instead clutching his right shoulder having landed awkwardly. The physio rushed out and there were concerned looks from team-mates. De Villiers has only just returned from a long lay-off with an elbow problem. To a collective sigh of relief, though, de Villiers composed himself and was soon able to shrug of the pain with a wry smile.

In the first ODI, Farhaan Behardien pulled off a spectacular catch near the boundary but it wasn't a wicket because he flicked the ball back as he slid near the boundary. In Christchurch it was the turn of his replacement, the fit-again David Miller, to provide a repeat. Ross Taylor needed four for his century when he drilled the penultimate ball of the innings towards long-on. Miller held a magnificent catch but his momentum carried him close to the boundary so he flicked the ball back, although if he had the opportunity again, he may consider he would have had time stop himself. Instead, it made a four into a two, although Taylor got the boundary he wanted next ball.

Tim Southee has already bowled a collection of terrific deliveries in this series. Two days ago, he knocked back Behardien's off stump with a wonderful offcutter, and in this match he gained a more notable scalp. Delivering from wide on the crease to Hashim Amla, he pushed the ball very full and because of the angle Amla thought it was heading leg side. However, at the last moment it straightened, beat the outside edge and struck the back pad right in front of middle. No doubt about that lbw.

Ish Sodhi had removed David Miller to create an opening for New Zealand, but de Villiers was still there. Williamson turned back to his star man, Trent Boult, and he struck the key blow almost straightaway. De Villiers went for the pull against a short ball, was through his shot early and got a toe end which was well held by wicketkeeper Tom Latham diving forward. Boult went for US$750,000 at the IPL auction. That was a priceless wicket for New Zealand.