Tahir spins South Africa to facile win
New Zealand fell prey to a brilliant bowling display from Imran Tahiras it stumbled to the leg-spinner's five-wicket haul and suffered a 78-run loss at the hands of South Africa in the one-off Twenty20 International at Eden Park in Auckland on Friday (February 17).
Under overcast conditions, South Africa was asked to bat first and it responded with a healthy 185 for 6. Hashim Amla led the charge with a 43-ball 62.
In response, New Zealand was pegged back by Chris Morris (2/10) and Andile Phehlukwayo (3/19) before Tahir ran through the order with figures of 5 for 24 from 3.5 overs. New Zealand was bowled out for 107 from 14.5 overs.
"It's a very special feeling," said Tahir, the legspinner, after his man-of-the-match performance at Eden Park - only the third five-wicket haul by a South African in a T20 international.
Faf du Plessis, the South African skipper, returned to action after missing out on the three-match T20I against Sri Lanka, and he fitted right back into the mould with a fine 25-ball 36. His contribution complemented Amla’s stay at the top as the duo added 87 runs for the second wicket after South Africa lost Quinton de Kock for nought.
AB de Villiers, who is celebrating his 33rd birthday, came up with a flashy 26 from 17 balls, with three fours and a six. JP Duminy then made a fiery 29 to guide the visitors to a big total.
Trent Boult was the pick of the bowlers for New Zealand with figures of 2 for 8 from his four-over quota. Colin de Grandhomme scalped 2 for 22 from three.
South Africa, playing without the rested Kagiso Rabada, established the upper hand early in New Zealand innings as Morris and Phehlukwayo picked up wickets at regular intervals. Tom Bruce offered some resistance with his 27-ball 33 before becoming Tahir’s first victim in the leg-spinner’s second over.
Tahir sent Luke Ronchi back the very next delivery, but was unable to complete the hat-trick.
Grandhomme dented Tahir’s figures by hitting the spinner for a couple of sixes, but the bowler had the last laugh, dismissing the dangerous 30-year-old for 15. In his fourth over, Tahir packed off Ben Wheeler and Tim Southee to complete the five-for and a dominant win for South Africa.
"It's frustrating from our perspective, we didn't really fire a shot," said Kane Williamson, the New Zealand skipper. "It's important we learn from this and move on."
The teams will now engage in a five-match One-Day International series before locking horns in a three-game Test series.