New Zealand won the toss and chose to bowl.
New Zealand decided to go with an unchanged team while South African skipper Faf du Plessis passed the fitness test and replaced Farhaan Behardien.
New Zealand
M Guptill, K Williamson, B McCullum, R Taylor, C Munro, C Anderson, L Ronchi, N McCullum, T Southee, K Mills, M McClenaghan
South Africa
Q de Kock, H Amla, F du Plessis, AB de Villiers, JP Duminy, D Miller, A Morkel, D Steyn, M Morkel, I Tahir, L Tsotsobe
It's not common for de Kock to be dismissed without scoring runs. However, today that was the case as he lost his wicket for only 4 runs. After hitting one too many in Tim Southee's over, du Plessis was the next one to go. Soon after, AB de Villiers fell for Nathan McCullum's 50th T20 international wicket. Sitting on 43-3 after 7 overs, South Africa were already under immense pressure. De Kock and de Villiers not scoring runs was a bit unusual for South Africa.
South Africa eventually reached 50 runs in 8.1 overs, after the loss of 3 important wickets for both sides. Moreover, in 10 overs they had reached 61 runs. The projected score was around 127. Is that even defendable? It didn't look promising.
The dismissal of Amla was a bit weird. I thought Aleem Dar would call dead ball. I don't remember coming across a scenario like that in The Laws of Cricket. Another thing, Amla should stop walking before either umpire signals out.
Its been about 3 T20's and Miller hasn't reached his full potential. Where's the Ram Slam top scorer? Where's the man who scored 93* off 37 balls for the Dolphins?
After it took South Africa 15 overs to get to 100, Duminy started letting loose, hitting fours and sixes and eventually reached 50 runs off 31 balls. In the last over, Duminy smashed the ball down the ground and Aleem Dar went tumbling down. That was the second time and he clearly needed a helmet too.
Duminy top scored for South Africa with 86* runs off 43 balls.
South Africa's innings were depressing to watch. That was until Duminy set the ball on fire with every whack.
South Africa finished their 20 overs with figures of 170-6.
New Zealand needed 171 runs to win from 20 overs at 8.55 runs per over.
At the start, New Zealand were not reaching the required run rate. Instead, they were going for 5.56 runs per over. Well, that was until M. Morkel came into the attack and Tsotsobe followed. Their overs changed things and both Guptill and Williamson started pulling their weight. New Zealand finished their powerplay on 47-0. Plus reached their 50 in 6.2 overs, without a loss.
Eventually South Africa got the breakthrough with the wicket of Guptill off the bowling of A. Morkel and a comfortable catch by de Kock. Tahir then dragged McCullum down the ground and de Kock made no mistake with the stumping.
Williamson went unnoticed to record a half century from 31 balls.
In the 12th over, Taylor reached 1 000 runs from a huge 6 he hit off M. Morkel and New Zealand reached 100 runs. Williamson and Taylor made a quick 50 run partnership off 30 odd balls.
Eventually the breakthrough came with a beautiful catch taken by de Villiers off the bowling of Steyn.
Taylor reached his 5th T20 international 50 just off 26 balls. With 5 overs remaining, New Zealand needed 31 runs to win off 24 balls.
Once again, Tahir took the wicket of Munro, with Amla taking the catch in the deep. Steyn then claimed his 50th T20 international wicket with the dismissal of Anderson.
M. Morkel was disappointed by his 50 run spell from 3 overs.
Steyn came into the attack, in the last over of the innings. His first delivery and he got rid of Ronchi. 2 balls left and Steyn took the wicket of N. McCullum. New Zealand needed 3 runs to win from 1 ball. Steyn charged in for his last delivery, Taylor hit it back at him, Steyn turned around and stumped Taylor at the non-strikers end.
As a result, South Africa recorded their first win of the ICC World T20 tournament by 2 runs.
JP Duminy won Man of the Match.
Hopefully South Africa can record a win against the Netherlands on Thursday.
