New Zealand vs. South Africa: 1st ODI, Highlights, Scorecard and Report

AB de Villiers delivered a captain’s innings to guide South Africa over the line in the opening ODI with New Zealand.

New Zealand set South Africa 231 for victory at the Bay Oval in Mount Maunganui, and De Villiers (89no) combined with JP Duminy (58no) to secure victory in the opening game of the series.

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Another great innings by AB de Villiers leads Proteas to a victory over Kiwis. Read more: http://t.co/XJRbDQS0bS pic.twitter.com/I5JsUYyCaL

— Tribune Sports (@ETribuneSports) October 21, 2014"

It was a victory secured with nine balls remaining, but it could have been far easier at one stage, as New Zealand’s top order was blown out of the water.

Vernon Philander knocked over New Zealand openers Martin Guptill and James Neesham with only 35 on the board.

Imran Tahir and Morne Morkel weighed in with the ball as well, and when Nathan McCullum fell to Ryan McLaren, the hosts were reeling at 145 for 8.

However, wicketkeeper-batsman Luke Ronchi found able support in last man Trent Boult and the pair put on 74 for the final wicket.

Ronchi was within sight of his first ODI ton but was caught by Quinton de Kock off Dale Steyn for 99.

			Runs	Minutes	Balls
MJ Guptill	c †de Kock	b Philander	5	42	29
JDS Neesham	c †de Kock	b Philander	16	24	15
DG Brownlie	c †de Kock	b Imran Tahir	24	44	28
BB McCullum*	c Imran Tahir	b Morkel	16	33	21
TWM Latham	st †de Kock	b Duminy	29	52	38
CJ Anderson	Bowled	b Morkel	0	1	1
L Ronchi†	c †de Kock	b Steyn	99	129	83
DL Vettori	lbw	b Imran Tahir	0	5	2
NL McCullum	c †de Kock	b McLaren	6	20	16
KD Mills	c Philander	b McLaren	1	9	6
TA Boult		not out	21	48	33
Extras	lb 7, w 5, nb 1
Bowler		Overs	Maidens	Runs	Wickets
DW Steyn		7.1	1	28	1
VD Philander		7	1	38	2
M Morkel		8	1	39	2
Imran Tahir		10	1	37	2
R McLaren		8	0	59	2
JP Duminy		5	0	22	1

In reply, Boult removed De Kock and Faf du Plessis to raise hope of victory. South Africa were four down with less than 100 on the board when Kyle Mills clean-bowled Hashim Amla, but the brilliance of De Villiers settled any Protea jitters.

De Villiers was imperious in his 121-ball 89, and he and Duminy steered South Africa to victory.

Q de Kock†	c Latham	b Boult	9	5	5
HM Amla	Bowled	Mills	38	95	74
F du Plessis	c †Ronchi	b Boult	8	27	23
RR Rossouw	c Brownlie	b Anderson	26	34	31
AB de Villiers*		not out	89	121	85
JP Duminy		not out	58	92	72
Extras	lb 3, w 4, nb 1
Bowler
KD Mills		8.1	0	47	1
TA Boult		10	2	40	2
DL Vettori		10	0	43	0
NL McCullum		10	0	45	0
CJ Anderson		6	0	31	1
JDS Neesham		4	0	27	0

Both sides are using the three-match series as a warm-up to next year’s World Cup.

The second match of the series takes place on Friday, and New Zealand will need to improve with the bat if they are to put the impressive South Africans under any sport of pressure.