Kane Williamson celebrates after scoring his 12th ODI century

Image courtesy of: ESPNcricinfo

New Zealand captain Kane Williamson struck an unbeaten 106 to lead his side to a four-wicket win over South Africa at Edgbaston.

New Zealand have now won four out of their five World Cup matches, with their other game against India being washed out without a single ball being bowled.

As for South Africa, they won have won one out of their six games, but received a point after their clash with the West Indies was abandoned after 7.3 overs.

Choosing to bowl first after the match was reduced to 49 overs per side due to a wet outfield, New Zealand got the early breakthrough they were looking for as South Africa opener Quinton de Kock was clean bowled by Trent Boult for five runs.

Hashim Amla and captain Faf du Plessis made up for the loss of De Kock with a 50-run partnership before Du Plessis was cleaned up by Lockie Ferguson for 23.

Amla and Aiden Markram kept the runs flowing with a 52-run stand, during which Amla brought up his fifty, before he was clean bowled by Mitchell Santner for 55, which came off 83 balls and included four boundaries.

Markram went on to make 38 before he was dismissed by Colin de Grandhomme.

David Miller and Rassie van der Dussen stabilised the innings with a 72-run partnership before Miller was caught by Boult at third man off the bowling of Ferguson for 36.

Andile Phehlukwayo failed to trouble the scorers as he was caught by Williamson at mid-off off the bowling of Ferguson for a duck.

However, with Van der Dussen going on to score an unbeaten 67, which came off 64 balls and included two boundaries and three sixes, South Africa finished on 241/6.

Ferguson was the pick of the bowlers with three wickets, while Boult, De Grandhomme and Santner chipped in with one wicket apiece.

Chasing 242 to win, New Zealand were dealt an early blow as opener Colin Munro was caught and bowled by Kagiso Rabada for nine runs.

Martin Guptill and Williamson steadied things with a 60-run partnership before Guptill, who made 35, was out hit wicket when his foot hit the stump after he slipped.

Ross Taylor only made one run before he was caught behind off the bowling of Chris Morris, who removed Tom Latham in the same manner for one run as well.

Williamson and James Neesham halted South Africa’s charge with a 57-run partnership before Neesham was caught by Amla at wide slip off the bowling of Morris for 23.

Williamson and De Grandhomme added 91 runs to the score before De Grandhomme was caught by Du Plessis at long-off off the bowling of Lungi Ngidi for a 47-ball 60, which included five boundaries and two sixes.

Despite losing De Grandhomme, Williamson led his side across the finish line with three balls to spare thanks to his unbeaten knock of 106, which came off 138 balls and included nine boundaries and a six.

Morris was the most successful bowler with three wickets, while Rabada, Ngidi and Phehlukwayo claimed one wicket each.

Williamson was named Man of the Match.