SA vs NZ 2nd ODI: New Zealand register historic series win over South Africa

New Zealand registered a historic series victory over South Africa winning the second ODI against South Africa by 27 runs at the De Beers Diamond Oval on Tuesday to take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-
match ODI series becoming the first Kiwis side ever to win an ODI series in South Africa.

Chasing 280 to win, South Africa imploded courtesy five run-outs in their innings as they were bundled out for 252 in 49.1 overs from being 165 for 1 after 30 overs. For New Zealand, Kane Williamson scored a brilliant unbeaten 145 in 136 balls to power the visitors to an imposing total with Grant Elliot supporting well scoring 48 after being put into bat by stand-in captain Faf du Plessis.South Africa had a solid start to the run chase with Graeme Smith (66) and Colin Ingram (79) combining well for a 129-run stand but an array of run-outs – five to be precise – proved too be much as the hosts capitulated in the run chase on a batting track.

It was 127-run stand between Kane Williamson and Grant Elliot that had rescued the visitors after losing the openers cheaply. After Elliot’s dismissal, the Kiwis’ too had a mini collapse but Williamason held the innings together and batted till the end of the innings supported by Nathan McCullum and Kyle Mills in the slog overs.
For South Africa, Smith’s wicket triggered the collapse and with run-rate creeping up all the time, the inexperienced South African middle-order crumbled under pressure and fell like nine pins to lose the match by 27 runs.