Proteas snatch one-run win in low-scoring thriller

With both teams having already qualified for the Super Eights, South Africa earned the bragging rights as they restricted New Zealand to 127 for five after themselves having managed just 128 for seven on being sent in by stand-in skipper Brendon McCullum.
However, some excellent work in the field allowed the Proteas to get even as they stifled the Kiwis, who at one stage were cruising along nicely with McCullum (57), leading the side in the absence of the injured Daniel Vettori, putting on 56 runs with Ross Taylor (22) for the third wicket.

McCullum was rather cautious while managing just six boundaries in his 54-ball knock. Taylor fought gamely on despite suffering from a hamstring strain and needing a runner before being bowled by Roelof van der Merwe. McCullum fell trying to improve the run rate, Mark Boucher stumping him off Van der Merwe.

Jacob Oram (24 off 18 balls) did his best to see the team through, but fell one run short as South Africa found scoring 15 off the last over just out of reach.

Earlier, some brilliant bowling and excellent fielding helped New Zealand restrict South Africa. Jacques Kallis’ run out to a brilliant piece of fielding by McCullum put the brakes on South Africa after he and skipper Graeme Smith (33) put on 49 for the first wicket.
Jean-Paul Duminy (29) hit a couple of sixes towards the end to prop up the South African innings, and what appeared a modest total turned out to be a match-winning one.

SCORE BOARD

SOUTH AFRICA
Kallis (run out)    24
Smith b Butler    33
Gibbs c & b Styris    3
Van der Merwe b N McCullum    0
Duminy c Broom b Mills    29
De Villiers (run out)    15
Boucher c B McCullum b Butler    6
Morkel (not out)    10
Botha (not out)    2
Extras (LB-4, W-2)    6     
Total (for 7 wkts, 20 overs)    128
Fall of wickets: 1-49, 2-63, 3-63, 4-65, 5-85, 6-107, 7-121.
Bowling: Mills 4-0-34-1, Oram 4-0-30-0, Butler 4-0-13-2, Diamanti 2-0-19-0, N McCullum 4-0-18-1, Styris 2-0-10-1.

NEW ZEALAND

B McCullum st Boucher b Merwe    57
Guptill c Merwe b Steyn    6
Broom c & b Kallis    1
Taylor b Van der Merwe    22
Oram (run out)    24
Styris (not out)    7
Extras (B-4, LB-1, W-5)    10     
Total (for 5 wkts, 20 overs)    127
Fall of wickets: 1-19, 2-26, 3-82, 4-93, 5-127.
Bowling: Dale Steyn 4-0-22-1, Wayne Parnell 4-0-38-0, Jacques Kallis 3-0-17-1, Johan Botha 3-0-17-0, Albie Morkel 2-0-14-0, Roelof van der Merwe 4-0-14-2.