26 Jan 2013

Proteas win a thriller to avoid a historic home ODI whitewash

11:41 am on 26 January 2013

South Africa has won a thrilling final one day international match cricket match against New Zealand by one wicket off the last ball, avoiding a historic home whitewash at Potchefstroom.

The Black Caps won the toss and chose to bat first, making 260 for nine - including a staggering 28 extras as the Proteas' indiscipline in the field again cost them.

Then the South African captain Graeme Smith top-scored with 116 and the hosts were seemingly cruising to the target of 261 - but some good efforts in the field kept the tourists in it right to the very end.

Mitchell McClenaghan took a wicket for just three runs in the penultimate over, meaning the Proteas went into the last over needing eight runs.

Up stepped James Franklin who snared the wicket of Dale Steyn with the second to last ball, caught by Elliott in the deep.

But needing three off the final delivery, the tailender Ryan McLaren hit the winning runs with a six, as South Africa reached 264 for nine.

The New Zealand batsmen's innings got off to a slow start with opener Martin Guptill again failing, out for just five.

They were 68 for four before Elliott steadied the innings, the recalled all-rounder scoring 54, while another South African-born player, Colin Munro, top-scored with 57.

Franklin was 53 not out in a crucial knock.

New Zealand win the series 2-1.