Johan Botha held his nerve to hit the winning boundary and give South Africa a three-wicket victory over New Zealand in their Twenty20 international at Johannesburg on Friday.
Botha drove the penultimate ball of the match through mid-wicket for four in a thrilling conclusion to a match in which South Africa always seemed in control. Chasing the New Zealand score of 129 for seven, South Africa reached 131 for seven to win with one ball to spare. AB de Villiers was the top scorer with 52 not out but South Africa still needed five runs off three balls when Botha produced his heroics.
Spinner Jeetan Patel had bowled the tourists back into the game with two for 17 in his four overs after De Villiers and JP Duminy had taken South Africa to 88 for three after 12 overs. After losing the toss and being asked to bat Scott Styris (30) and Kyle Mills (33 not out) provided the only resistance to the good South African bowling led by Shaun Pollock's three for 28. Botha had also impressed with the ball with one for 19 in his four overs.
ScorecardNew Zealand innings:L Vincent lbw b Botha 15B McCullum c Duminy b Pollock 9J How c Duminy b Pollock 14R Taylor c Kallis b Morkel 7S Styris c Smith b Steyn 30G Hopkins c de Villiers b Morkel 6D Vettori c Morkel b Pollock 2K Mills not out 33M Gillespie not out 4Extras: (lb-3, w-6) 9Total: (seven wickets; 20 overs) 129Did not bat: J. Patel, M. MasonFall of wickets: 1-14, 2-34, 3-45, 4-66, 5-78, 6-84, 7-98Bowling: S Pollock 4-0-28-3, D Steyn 4-0-17-1, C Langeveldt 4-0-33-0, J Morkel 4-0-29-2 (2w) J Botha 4-0-19-1South Africa innings:G Smith c McCullum b Mills 7J Kallis c Mills b Gillespie 4J Duminy st McCullum b Vettori 33AB de Villiers not out 52M Boucher lbw b Patel 7S Pollock c Taylor b Patel 6A Morkel c Vettori b Styris 9V Philander run out 2J Botha not out 6Extras: (lb-2, w-2, nb-1) 5Total: (seven wickets; 19.5 overs) 131Did not bat: C. Langeveldt, D. SteynFall of wickets: 1-6, 2-33, 3-64, 4-89, 5-103, 6-116, 7-124Bowling: K Mills 3.5-0-34-1, M Gillespie 4-0-22-1 (2w), D Vettori 4-0-24-1, M Mason 3-0-28-0 (1nb), J Patel 4-0-17-2, S Styris 1-0-4-1
