23/11Result
Only T20I (N), New Zealand tour of South Africa at Johannesburg, Nov 23 2007
South Africa won by 3 wkts (1b rem)
Player of the Match
AB de Villiers
AB de VilliersSouth Africa
23/11Result
Only T20I (N), New Zealand tour of South Africa at Johannesburg, Nov 23 2007
South Africa won by 3 wkts (1b rem)
Player of the Match
AB de Villiers
AB de VilliersSouth Africa

We'll be back on Sunday for the first one-dayer at Durban. Do join us then.

And there aren't too many celebrations going on in the dug-out. The mood is certainly one of relief - if not a great escape - and they should never have made it so difficult for themselves. New Zealand never gave up - even when all seemed lost - and, although it is yet another loss on their tour of South Africa, they did show encouraging fielding and form with the ball.

19.5
4
Mills to Botha, FOUR, and he's done it! A beautiful, calm flick from Botha through midwicket brings him four and, with it, the match for South Africa

3 needed from 2

Smith's laughing his head off in the dug-out

19.4
2
Mills to Botha, 2 runs, Botha pulls, but top-edges it over the wicketkeeper! He can't get to it, McCullum, and nor can Styris - both of them swarming on the spiralling ball like a pair of wasps, but they just can't get to it in time. What a mess it is out there!

A discussion between bowler, captain and a couple of others. What can Botha do?

New Zealand are all over them now; all over them like a rash. They're absolutely buzzing, as are the crowd.

19.3
1
Mills to de Villiers, 1 run, de Villiers cracks this over the top - will it go all the way? No, it falls short and they can only get a single

Even by their own high standards, this is a choke of epic proportions from South Africa

19.2
W
Mills to Philander, OUT, cut to short third man again who lines up a throw. There's a mix-up between the batsmen and Vincent, at the non-striker's end, collects the ball and shatters the stumps to dismiss Philander!

VD Philander run out 2 (10m 7b 0x4 0x6) SR: 28.57

This is thrilling stuff

19.1
1
Mills to de Villiers, 1 run, full toss which he guides to short third man who fields. The non-striker is halfway down the pitch; third man throws down the stumps, misses, and the batsman throws himself back behind the line!

Seven needed from the final over. An exciting end to a match which South Africa really ought to have wrapped up easily by now

END OF OVER:
19 | 3 Runs | SA: 123/6 (7 runs required from 6 balls, RR: 6.47, RRR: 7.00)

  • Vernon Philander2 (6b)
  • AB de Villiers50 (43b)
  • Jeetan Patel4-0-17-2
  • Scott Styris1-0-4-1
18.6
0
Patel to Philander, no run, close! Very close to getting an inside edge here
18.5
0
Patel to Philander, no run, he tries to late-cut this - a cry of catch it, but it falls short of a short third man. Good grief, why are South Africa even in this position? They've made a right hash of it

Mid-off comes back. Five in the circle

43 balls for his first Twenty20 fifty. He just needs to see South Africa home, now...

18.4
1
Patel to de Villiers, 1 run, and he smacks this straight down the ground. He won't get four, but it was well timed nevertheless

de Villiers is on 49

18.3
1
Patel to Philander, 1 run, ooh and he's almost turned around here, and gets a leading edge to long-off
18.2
0
Patel to Philander, no run, outside the off stump, he shuffles across and works it to leg
18.1
1
Patel to de Villiers, 1 run, dug out to cover

END OF OVER:
18 | 4 Runs 1 Wkt | SA: 120/6 (10 runs required from 12 balls, RR: 6.66, RRR: 5.00)

  • AB de Villiers48 (41b)
  • Vernon Philander1 (2b)
  • Scott Styris1-0-4-1
  • Jeetan Patel3-0-14-2
17.6
1
Styris to de Villiers, 1 run, he stands tall and punches it to long-on for another simple single
17.5
2
Styris to de Villiers, 2 runs, a neat paddle down to fine leg, who is a little square and jogs around to save four
17.4
1
Styris to Philander, 1 run, worked to long-on for an easy single
17.3
0
Styris to Philander, no run, well bowled. Nice and full, swinging into the new batsman who clunks it back to him
17.2
W
Styris to Morkel, OUT, gone, beaten by the offie! Morkel mistimes it straight to Vettori at cover. A wasteful stroke, frankly

JA Morkel c Vettori b Styris 9 (12m 11b 0x4 1x6) SR: 81.81

17.1
0
Styris to Morkel, no run, Morkel lines up a massive smite but instead works it to midwicket

Styris is into the attack

END OF OVER:
17 | 7 Runs | SA: 116/5 (14 runs required from 18 balls, RR: 6.82, RRR: 4.66)

  • Albie Morkel9 (9b)
  • AB de Villiers45 (39b)
  • Jeetan Patel3-0-14-2
  • Daniel Vettori4-0-24-1
16.6
1
Patel to Morkel, 1 run, pushed to leg for a single
16.5
0
Patel to Morkel, no run, again he's beaten - that could so easily have been dragged onto his stumps
16.4
6
Patel to Morkel, SIX, but here's the big hit from Morkel with a Klusener-like pull for six over midwicket. Pure, ugly power

And they need 21 at a run-a-ball now

16.3
0
Patel to Morkel, no run, ooh close! Very close to getting a stump-shattering inside edge there
16.2
0
Patel to Morkel, no run, well bowled! McCullum thinks so too, roaring his approval as it's defended in a hurry

South Africa 2nd innings Partnerships

WktRunsPlayers
1st6JH KallisGC Smith
2nd27GC SmithJP Duminy
3rd31JP DuminyAB de Villiers
4th25MV BoucherAB de Villiers
5th14SM PollockAB de Villiers
6th13JA MorkelAB de Villiers
7th8AB de VilliersVD Philander
8th7J BothaAB de Villiers