SA beat Kiwis by five wickets

South Africa beat New Zealand in the fourth limited overs international at De Beers Diamond Oval in Kimberly on Saturday by five wickets.

The South African win was fuelled by a 172-run partnership between Gary Kirsten and Jacques Kallis after opener Darryl Cullinan fell after making just 17. While Kirsten made a century, Kallis missed his by seven runs.

Earlier, Kiwi Roger Twose took advantage of a fortuitous power failure as New Zealand hammered the South African bowlers. Twose top scored with 89 in a New Zealand total of 287 for six.

Twose had a lucky let-off before he had scored, however, when the South Africans celebrated what they thought was a run-out after some quick fielding by Jonty Rhodes, who flicked the ball into the stumps as Twose strayed from the non-strikers end.

Although fixed cameras were operating in line with the creases, a power failure affected the television van and third umpire Wilf Diedricks had no conclusive picture on which to rule Twose out.

The English-born lefthander went on to hit nine fours and a six in a 91-ball innings. He shared in a third-wicket stand of 110 with skipper Stephen Fleming, who made an elegant 85 off 103 balls.

South Africa now lead the six-match series 3-0.

Scores:

New Zealand
C Nevin b Boje 68
N Astle c Boucher b Telemachus 5
S Fleming run out (Dippenaar) 85
R Twose c Pollock b Kallis 89
C Cairns c Pollock b Kallis 21
C McMillan c Kirsten b Pollock 1
C Harris not out 11
A Parore not out 0
Extras (b2, lb2, w2, nb1) 7
Total (6 wkts, 50 overs) 287

South Africa
D Cullinan c Astle b Cairns 17
G Kirsten c Parore b Cairns 101
J Kallis c Walker b Styris 93
J Rhodes b Harris 25
L Klusener c Fleming b Styris 9
N Boje not out 20
M Boucher not out 18
Extras (lb2, w3, nb1) 6
Total (5 wkts, 48.5 overs) 289

Man of match: Gary Kirsten.

Remaining matches: Durban (Nov 1), Cape Town (Nov 4)

Mail Cricket Editor