Sports

Saturday, January 19, 2013

McClenaghan and Williamson topple South Africa for 208

By Michael Todt


PAARL, South Africa (Reuters) - Debutant Mitchell McClenaghan and Kane Williamson helped New Zealand to dismiss South Africa for 208 with four wickets apiece in the first one-day cricket international at Boland Park on Saturday.

South Africa, asked to bat first by Black Caps captain Brendon McCullum, had hoped to continue their dominance over the visitors after series wins in the T20 International and Test series, but lost wickets at regular intervals on a slow pitch, and only Faf du Plessis (57) was able to register a half-century.

McClenaghan finished with figures of 10-2-20-4, while off-spinner Williamson, who picked up the final wicket, had 7.2-0-22-4.

The Proteas came into the game on top of the ICC ODI rankings but had not played 50-over cricket since September and the top order struggled to cope with the difficult pitch.

Hashim Amla (13), Graeme Smith (7) and AB De Villiers (7) were all trapped in front of their stumps to reduce the home side to 37 for three in the 12th over.

Colin Ingram (29) and debutant Quinton de Kock (18) offered du Plessis some support, but both were well caught by Nathan McCullum to end useful partnerships and leave the home side 119 for five in the 30th over.

Du Plessis remained steadfast, and, with the help of a quick-fire 33 from 39 balls by all-rounder Ryan McLaren, was able to give the innings some much-needed momentum.

The right-handed Du Plessis brought up his fifth ODI fifty with a boundary to fine leg off Kyle Mills in the 39th over, and by that stage South Africa were 171 for five.

McLaren fell soon after, beginning a procession of wickets, including that of Du Plessis, which were shared between Williamson and McClenaghan.

Rory Kleinveldt (26) struck three big sixes to get the score past the 200 mark in the 46th over, and was the last to be dismissed with 22 deliveries still remaining in the innings.

The score left New Zealand with a target of 209 to move 1-0 up in the three-match series.

(Editing by Clare Fallon)

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