An experimental South Africa team romped to an eight-wicket win over New Zealand in their opening Twenty20 game after the Black Caps slumped to their third-lowest T20 score in a dismal start to their tour.
South Africa needed just 12.1 overs on Friday to reach 87/2 and overhaul New Zealand’s 86 all out. Left badly exposed by the absence of experienced players themselves — including former captain Ross Taylor — New Zealand needed 23 from debutant Colin Munro to help it past its record low in 20-over games, 80 all out against Pakistan in 2010.
Seamer Rory Kleinvedlt (3/18) and left-arm spinner Robin Peterson (2/8) did the bowling damage for the Proteas while stand-in captain Faf du Plessis led South Africa home in his first game in charge, hitting the winning runs and finishing 38 not out.
Wicketkeeper batsman Quinton de Kock was 28 not out on his international debut.
Brendon McCullum was one of the failures as he fell for six to a relentless South African seam attack.
NEW ZEALAND
Nicol c de Kock b Kleinveldt 3
Fulton c Morris b Steyn 9
B McCullum c Steyn b Kleinveldt 6
Franklin c de Kock b McLaren 0
Munro c & b Morris 23
Anderson c Levi b Morris 5
N McCullum b Peterson 1
Neesham b Peterson 10
Bracewell (not out) 21
Hira c Kleinveldt b Steyn 5
McClenaghan c Peterson b K’veldt 0
Extras (LB-1, W-2) 3
Total (all out, 18.2 overs) 86
Fall of wickets: 1-9, 2-19, 3-19, 4-27, 5-34, 6-36, 7-54, 8-60, 9-81.
Bowling: McLaren 4-0-27-1, Steyn 3-0-13-2, Kleinveldt 3.2-1-18-3, Morris 3.4-0-19-2, Peterson 4-0-8-2, Du Plessis 0.2-0-0-0.
South Africa
Levi c Fulton b McClenaghan 0
Davids b Hira 20
Du Plessis (not out) 38
De Kock (not out) 28
Extras (W-1) 1
Total (for 2 wkts, 12.1 overs) 87
Fall of wickets: 1-0, 2-45.
Bowling: McClenaghan 3-1-20-1, Bracewell 2-0-21-0, Hira 3-0-15-1, Anderson 1-0-11-0, N McCullum 2-0-7-0, Nicol 1-0-11-0, Neesham 0.1-0-2-0.