South Africa v New Zealand, 2015-16
Wisden's review of the first Twenty20 International, South Africa v New Zealand, 2015-16
15-Apr-2016
At Durban, August 14, 2015. South Africa won by six wickets. Toss: South Africa.
At 68 without loss in the eighth over - and at 100 for one after 12 - New Zealand seemed destined for a substantial total. But some intelligent left-arm spin from Phangiso and a moment of sloppiness from Guptill shifted the game South Africa's way. Phangiso ripped one past a charging Williamson to give a straightforward stumping to van Wyk, whose eagle eyes later spotted Guptill coasting for what should have been a straightforward single and, embarrassingly, failing to run his bat in. When Phangiso trapped the left-handed Worker with a curving arm-ball, New Zealand had subsided to 125 for five, having lost four wickets in 19 deliveries. They never regained momentum. The game was there for South Africa's taking and, thanks to the meticulous Amla and the more ruthless de Villiers and Rossouw, they got home easily.
Man of the Match: A. M. Phangiso.
At 68 without loss in the eighth over - and at 100 for one after 12 - New Zealand seemed destined for a substantial total. But some intelligent left-arm spin from Phangiso and a moment of sloppiness from Guptill shifted the game South Africa's way. Phangiso ripped one past a charging Williamson to give a straightforward stumping to van Wyk, whose eagle eyes later spotted Guptill coasting for what should have been a straightforward single and, embarrassingly, failing to run his bat in. When Phangiso trapped the left-handed Worker with a curving arm-ball, New Zealand had subsided to 125 for five, having lost four wickets in 19 deliveries. They never regained momentum. The game was there for South Africa's taking and, thanks to the meticulous Amla and the more ruthless de Villiers and Rossouw, they got home easily.
Man of the Match: A. M. Phangiso.