Taylor celebrates after scoring his 17th ODI century
Image courtesy of: Zimbio
Ross Taylor made his 17th ODI hundred, the most by a New Zealand batsman, to guide his side to a narrow six-run win over South Africa in the second ODI in Christchurch.
New Zealand’s victory not only brought them level in the five-match series, but also ended South Africa’s 12-game winning streak.
Choosing to bowl first, South Africa struck early as Wayne Parnell dismissed New Zealand opener Tom Latham for just two runs.
Just as New Zealand were starting to rebuild their innings, Dwaine Pretorius trapped Dean Brownlie lbw for 34.
Captain Kane Williamson and Taylor stabilised the innings with a 104-run partnership, during which Williamson breezed past his fifty, before he was sent packing by Imran Tahir for 69, which came off 75 balls and included six boundaries.
Williamson made his 29th ODI fifty
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Even though Neil Broom fell shortly after, Taylor and James Neesham helped the Black Caps finish their innings on a high as they put together an unbeaten 123-run stand, during which Taylor brought up his hundred off the last ball and Neesham his fifty.
Taylor finished on 102 off 110 balls, which included eight boundaries, while Neesham remained undefeated on 71 off 57 deliveries, which included six boundaries, as New Zealand made 289/4 off their 50 overs.
With his hundred, Taylor surpassed Nathan Astle to sit atop the summit of New Zealand players with the most triple figure scores in ODI cricket.
Pretorius was the pick of the bowlers with two wickets, while Parnell and Tahir chipped in with one wicket apiece.
Chasing 290 to win, South Africa got off to a disappointing start as opener Hashim Amla was trapped lbw off the bowling of Tim Southee for 10 runs.
Faf du Plessis could only add 11, but Quinton de Kock and JP Duminy steadied things with a 57-run partnership before Duminy was stumped by Latham off the bowling of Mitchell Santner for 34.
De Kock went on to make 57 off 65 balls, which included six boundaries, before falling to Trent Boult.
De Kock’s knock of 57 went in vain
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Captain AB de Villiers and David Miller kept the Proteas in it with a 68-run stand, but their resistance came to an end when Miller was caught behind off the bowling of Ish Sodhi for 28.
De Villiers ended up making 45, while Chris Morris and Parnell fell not long after.
Pretorius and Andile Phehlukwayo inched South Africa closer to victory with a 61-run partnership, during which Pretorius registered his half-century.
But, Boult provided the big breakthrough New Zealand needed when he clean bowled Pretorius for 50, which came off 27 balls and included four boundaries and two sixes.
Pretorius put up a valiant performance with both the bat and ball
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Despite the tourists heading into the final over needing 15 runs to win, Southee maintained a cool composure to seal the deal for New Zealand.
Boult was the most successful bowler with three wickets, while Santner took two and Southee, Sodhi and Colin de Grandhomme claimed one wicket each.
Taylor was named Man of the Match.