South Africa v New Zealand, 2015-16
Wisden's review of the third ODI, South Africa v New Zealand, 2015-16
15-Apr-2016
At Durban, August 26, 2015. South Africa won by 62 runs. Toss: South Africa.
South Africa based their decision to bat on local knowledge, since van Wyk was captain of Dolphins, the Durban franchise. He knew the well-grassed pitch would become more difficult under lights - and so it did. Van Wyk was less fluent in his innings of 58 from 100 balls than he would have wished, but an opening partnership of 89 set the stage for de Villiers, who unfurled a typical array of classic and unusual shots, one of which sped him to 8,000 one-day international runs in his 182nd innings, 18 fewer than India's Sourav Ganguly, the previous fastest. Miller, another Durban lad, ran hard to atone for his lack of timing, while Behardien finished an encouraging series at No. 6 with 40 from 28 balls. After Guptill's early departure, Latham and Williamson established a solid platform for New Zealand. But the balance shifted in the 24th over, when Imran Tahir sneaked a googly past Williamson, and again in the 28th, when Latham was unseated by an underarm throw from Miller, running in from deep square leg. Wiese collected three wickets with his seamers, but it was the miserliness of Tahir and the speedy Rabada which caused the run-chase to fail.
Man of the Match: A. B. de Villiers. Man of the Series: H. M. Amla.
South Africa based their decision to bat on local knowledge, since van Wyk was captain of Dolphins, the Durban franchise. He knew the well-grassed pitch would become more difficult under lights - and so it did. Van Wyk was less fluent in his innings of 58 from 100 balls than he would have wished, but an opening partnership of 89 set the stage for de Villiers, who unfurled a typical array of classic and unusual shots, one of which sped him to 8,000 one-day international runs in his 182nd innings, 18 fewer than India's Sourav Ganguly, the previous fastest. Miller, another Durban lad, ran hard to atone for his lack of timing, while Behardien finished an encouraging series at No. 6 with 40 from 28 balls. After Guptill's early departure, Latham and Williamson established a solid platform for New Zealand. But the balance shifted in the 24th over, when Imran Tahir sneaked a googly past Williamson, and again in the 28th, when Latham was unseated by an underarm throw from Miller, running in from deep square leg. Wiese collected three wickets with his seamers, but it was the miserliness of Tahir and the speedy Rabada which caused the run-chase to fail.
Man of the Match: A. B. de Villiers. Man of the Series: H. M. Amla.