Fleming powers New Zealand to victory

New Zealand 255 for 5 (Fleming 108, McMillan 70*) beat South Africa 253 for 8 (Smith 80, Rudolph 42, Boucher 40) by 5 wickets
Scorecard

Stephen Fleming engineered a five-wicket New Zealand triumph over South Africa at Christchurch to level the six-match series at 1-1. His 108, and a 102-run partnership with Craig McMillan (71 not out), took New Zealand to the target of 254 after they were in a quandary at 66 for 3.

In contrast with an overpowering performance towards the end, McMillan was ill at ease when he began, and an airy-fairy sweep nearly brought about his end. Gradually, he settled down and provided Fleming support. Together, they milked singles when boundaries were scarce, and towards the end, smashed fours and sixes. In the five overs before Fleming was dismissed, 51 were scored, with six fours and two sixes peppering the boundary.

While McMillan upped the ante with three fours in an over, Fleming thundered away to his century with a straight-drive that shot down the ground. It was that sort of a day for Fleming. The fall of wickets had no effect, and he only came harder and harder at South Africa. Tight fields were rendered useless with shots that were tantalisingly out of the fielders' reach. Cover-drives and pulls were brought out of the bag when murderous cut shots weren't on display. But it had to end sometime.

Going for one more big hit, he swung Makhaya Ntini to square leg (226 for 5). It was the last success for South Africa, because McMillan got to his fifty and then struck the ball even harder, while Chris Cairns ended it all with a massive six.

South Africa's innings of 253 was built around Graeme Smith's 80, and destructive sideshows by Mark Boucher and Jacques Rudolph. Smith yet again paved the way with an innings that reflected the three stages of South Africa's innings - survival, rebuilding, and, finally, attack. After opting to bat first on a damp wicket, he watched New Zealand remove Herschelle Gibbs and Jacques Kallis in quick time (28 for 2). But the pitch slowly lost its venom, and by the time Daniel Vettori bowled his first ball, and saw it whacked into the stands, the wicket had completed its transformation from beast to beauty.

A steadying partnership with Boeta Dippenaar ensued, and after that, the fun and games began. Rudolph scored 42, and Boucher got out on 40, but not before tonking every bowler who bowled to them. The midwicket and cover boundaries were targeted, and sixes endangered spectators. Smith fell in the pursuit for big runs, but by then he had got South Africa to a position of relative strength.

His bowlers, though, had a mixed day, with Ntini firing in threatening deliveries and picking up two early wickets at one end, and Shaun Pollock barely able to control the swing at the other. Fleming duly took advantage with a series of demoralising cut shots. Nel, who usually scares batsmen even before he bowls, found his first two balls swung away to square leg for ten runs. Hamish Marshall played a couple of pretty shots as well, but threw it away to a harmless delivery (66 for 3).

Scott Styris began circumspectly, but soon found the fence regularly. Clean hitting was on the menu when out of nowhere, Gibbs pulled off a stunning one-handed catch, ending Styris's part in the match (124 for 4). Then, McMillan walked in, and played his part in the doubly whammy that floored South Africa.