South Africa 208 for 5 (Hashim Amla 76, Albie Morkal 41) beat New Zealand 206 (McCullum 47, Marchant de Lange 4-46) by five wickets
Venue: Eden Park, Auckland, New Zealand
The young speedster, Marchant de Lange demolished the batting of New Zealand by grabbing four wickets as South Africa triumphed in the third and final One Day International by five wickets.
The Kiwis were bowled out for mere 206 runs in 47 overs and the Proteas conquered the match by smashing 208 after losing five wickets with 6.4 overs to spare.
The match was played at Eden Park, Auckland on March 3, 2012 and M de Lange was declared ‘Player of the match’ for his excellent execution with the ball on his debut in the ODI cricket.
Earlier, AB de Villiers won the toss, put the Black Caps in to bat and got the instant reward once they got rid of the openers for 45 in 13.5 overs. Brendon McCullum and Kane Williamson added 29 runs before the later was gone for 22.
The Captain McCullum tried to consolidate but was caught by Faf du Plessis at backward point off de Lange for 47 off 59 balls with 6 fours. James Franklin and the debutant Colin de Grandhomme posted the highest partnership for the kiwis by adding 55 runs for the fifth wicket.
Grandhomme was unluckily run out after displaying a short gem innings of 36 from even balls with 3 sixes and a four. Franklin was the sixth batsman who went back to the pavilion for 36 as the late order batting crumbled. M de Lange and Robin Peterson spoiled the tail and their innings was folded back for 206 runs with three overs to spare.
Marchant de Lange was the star performer with four wickets, Peterson held two as Lonwabo Tsotsobe and Johan Botha shared one wicket each.
Hashim Amla and Wayne Parnell initiated the innings in an attacking mode and negotiated the opening burst smartly. Amla dispatched two fours in the eight over off Michael Bates and Parnell followed him in the next over, bowled by Andy Mckay.
Amla got a life when he was dropped by Nathan McCullum on the second ball of the 10th over off Kayle Mills at 30. He fancied the chance by thrashing fifty on the first ball of the 16th over as Parnell became the first victim for 27runs.
The first wicket fell at 80 when Albie Morkal joined in with Amla who kept consolidating at the other end. The first dispatched two sixes in the 22nd over and made aspirations clear and carried on with his attacking knock. The companionship added 58 runs for the second wicket as Mills celebrated his 200th ODI wicket when Amla was caught behind the wickets by BB McCullum for 76 off 89 deliveries with 7 fours.
Morkal was the next batsman who surrendered for 41 off 51 with 3 well timed sixes and 2 fours as the total touched 155. Jean-Paul-Duminy kept on cruising towards the target by little partnerships and contributed 25 runs. AB de Villiers sent the second ball of the 44th over flying over the boundary as the landmark was achieved by scoring 208 runs with five wickets still in hand.
Rob Nicol was the main wicket taker with two, Mills, Bates and Andrew Ellis shared one wicket each.
South Africa illuminated victory by five wickets and whitewashed three ODI series 3-0 in an authoritative manner.
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