Boje sinks New Zealand again

Nicky Boje hammered his second century in three matches as South Africa gained an easy win over New Zealand in the third limited overs international at Centurion Park Wednesday.

Boje made a career-best 129 then had a hand in three of New Zealands first six wickets as South Africa won a rain-interrupted match by 115 runs.

Boje shared a South African second wicket record stand of 160 with Gary Kirsten (94) as South Africa piled up 324 for five, their highest total against a Test nation, after being sent in on an excellent batting pitch. It was only four short of their highest against allcomers, against Holland in the 1996 World Cup.

An already difficult task for New Zealand became near-impossible after a rain interruption early in their innings which left them with a revised target of 305 from 43 overs.

Nathan Astle (46) shared stands of 56 off 46 balls with Stephen Fleming (35) and 72 off 74 balls with Roger Twose (40) as New Zealand stayed on target for a while. Then Roger Telemachus bowled Twose and star allrounder Chris Cairns with successive deliveries to start a collapse to 189 all out.

Bojes 129 off 114 balls followed scores of 105 not out in Potchefstroom and 64 in Benoni. South Africa lead the series 2-0, with the Potchefstroom match having been rained off.

New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming said he felt his side preferred to chase a target on a good pitch but he added the proviso that his bowlers needed to restrict South Africa to a reasonable total.

Instead, South Africa were scoring at around six runs an over virtually from the start with Kirsten and experimental opener Daryll Cullinan setting the pace. Kirsten drove crisply through the covers and Cullinan hooked Shayne OConnor for a six before playing across a straight ball from Chris Cairns after making 22.

Boje was in sparkling form and South Africa raced to 95 for one in the first 15 overs before a period of consolidation before accelerating again in the last 20 overs. Boje reached his fifty off 47 balls with six fours and his century off 101 deliveries with nine boundaries before cutting loose. He was caught on the straight boundary off the penultimate ball of the innings.

Boje held a simple catch at square leg to dismiss opener Chris Nevin, then ran out Craig McMillan with a throw from deep midwicket before having Astle caught on the boundary in his only over. Slow bowler Boje was brought on to bowl the 25th over in a hurry when more rain started to fall. If 25 overs had not been completed the match would have been a no-result.

Mail Cricket Editor