Can South Africa do it? (28 March 1999)

28 March 1999

Can South Africa do it?

Atul Kahate

New Zealand have been challenged not for the first time in their home territory in Limited Overs International (LOI) cricket in the last four years. But if South Africa win the sixth and final match of the series and take the series 4-2 (plus one 'No Result'), they would become the first team to beat New Zealand in New Zealand in a LOI series since January 1995.

New Zealand have remained unbeaten in a home series since West Indies beat them 3-0 in early 1995. Although they have come very close to losing a home series many times since then, their fighting spirit has usually meant that they would not let that happen very easily. It is, therefore, interesting to see if the Kiwis let South Africa take the series: the recent history suggests that chances are, they would not; as can be summarized in the close encounters among others, as follows:

1995-96 v Pakistan - Won the last match to square the series 2-2.

1996-97 v England - Tied the third match and won the fourth and fifth to square the series 2-2 (plus 1 tied) after being down 0-2.

1997-98 v Australia - Won the last two matches after being down 0-2 to level the series 2-2.

1997-98 v Zimbabwe - Won the last two matches to win the series 2-1 after losing the opening match.

1998-99 v India - Won the fifth match to square the series 2-2 after being down 1-2 (plus 1 no result).

New Zealand's home record (in series involving not more than two teams) since their last home series defeat is as follows:

Sri Lanka 1995-96 3 2 1 0 0 Pakistan 1995-96 4 2 2 0 0 Zimbabwe 1995-96 3 2 1 0 0 England 1996-97 5 2 2 1 0 Sri Lanka 1996-97 2 1 1 0 0 Zimambwe 1996-97 2 2 0 0 0 Australia 1997-98 4 2 2 0 0 Zimbabwe 1997-98 3 2 1 0 0 India 1998-99 5 2 2 0 1 *South Africa 1998-99 6 2 3 0 1

TOTAL 37 19 15 1 2

* With one more match to be played.

Contributed by: Atul Kahate (AKahate@yahoo.com)

Source :: Atul Kahate