** New Zealand 38/2 (9.0 ov)
South Africa
** New Zealand won the toss and elected to bat first
after losing the test series 2-0, the only 20twenty and first ODI [both 20/20 and first ODI were close matches with SA winning in the last overs] NZ came back strongly in the 2nd ODI and won by 7 wkts. today they are playing the 3rd and final ODI to decide the winner. NZ are in a spot of bother losing two wkts both to dale steyn, a fast bowler who took like 15-16 wkts in the two tests against NZ and did extremely well against PAK aswell.
***Last bat* JM How lbw b Langeveldt 15 (83m 33b 3x4 0x6) SR: 45.45
18.6 Langeveldt to How, OUT, the slower ball claims How this time... Langeveldt bowls the off cutter, pitches just outside the line of off stump, the ball just straightens a touch after pitching and catches How in front of middle and leg as he tries to flick across the line
JM How lbw b Langeveldt 15 (83m 33b 3x4 0x6) SR: 45.45
***Last bat* RL Taylor b Nel 3 (14m 10b 0x4 0x6) SR: 30.00
21.6 Nel to Taylor, OUT, played on... it wasn't a particularly good ball.... Nel gives Taylor width outside off to cut, he doesn't move his feet or cover the line and bounce and ends up getting a thick inside edge onto his stumps
**Last bat JDP Oram c Smith b Langeveldt 34 (46m 38b 2x4 1x6) SR: 89.47
Fow: 184/6 (44.2 ov); Partnership: 56 runs, 10.4 overs, RR: 5.25 (Sinclair 15, Oram 34)
44.2 Langeveldt to Oram, OUT, soft dismissal… Langeveldt bangs it in short of a length, Oram backs away and tries to biff that over deep square leg, he was never in control of the stroke and ended up playing far too early. The top edge lobs up for a long time and lands down Smith’s throat at midwicket JDP Oram c Smith b Langeveldt 34 (46m 38b 2x4 1x6) SR: 89.47
**commentators says anything less than 250-260 on this pitch is very much getable and SA will be happy with this target to chase. NZ failed to excel in the last two overs and are atleast 30 runs short of a competitive total.
Result:South Africa won by 5 wickets (with 28 balls remaining)
GIBBS scored a magnificent 119 off 101 balls and took the match away from the NZ on his own. NZ had a sniff of an upset by taking 5 quick wkts but it was not to be. they just didn't had enough runs on the board and with GIBBS giving SA a flying start, it was just a matter of time for SA to finish off the match and they did that with 5 wkts in hand and 5overs to spare.
so NZ capping the tour of SA with anther loss and was a whitewash in a sense that they lost every game in SA with the exception of 2nd ODI which they won.
:halo: