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25 overs New Zealand 102 for 5 (Watling 43*, Franklin 5*) need 107 more runs to beat South Africa 208
Mitchell McClenaghan was impressive in his debut ODI © AFP
South Africa made a strong attempt at defending 208 in Paarl as New Zealand's top order struggled in familiar fashion. Lonwabo Tsotsobe claimed two early wickets then, amid a power failure that left the DRS unusable, Brendon McCullum was lbw to Rory Kleinveldt as the chase stumbled to 102 for 5.
New Zealand's pursuit began in shambolic style when Martin Guptill was run out without facing a ball as AB de Villiers slotted straight back into life as an outfielder. Rob Nicol dropped the ball into the off side and there was never a single on offer, especially with a fielder of de Villiers' prowess in the action and South Africa's captain hit direct with two stumps to aim at.
BJ Watling should have gone two balls later but Graeme Smith, unusually stood at second slip, dropped an edge to his left although he made amends next over when he collected a chance offered by Nicol as he pushed forward at Tsotsobe.
Dale Steyn, with two maidens in an opening three-over spell, and Tsotsobe maintained the pressure although the required rate was never something to overly concern New Zealand. However, wickets lost were a concern. Kane Williamson's poor form continued when he sliced his cut shot to backward point and another swift collapse was on the cards.
But Watling and Brendon McCullum, batting at No. 5, fought hard to stabilise the innings as they added 52. It was hard work with just the occasional release, such as when Ryan McLaren offered a free hit which McCullum sent for six.
A power cut at the ground as then South Africa's cue to surge. Kleinveldt nipped one back into McCullum to trap him lbw - the New Zealand captain as unable to review because of the lack of TV coverage - and had a second when Grant Elliott flapped weakly to give Smith his 100th catch in ODIs.
South Africa 208 (du Plessis 57, McClenaghan 4-20 Williamson 4-22) v New Zealand
Mitchell McClenaghan claimed the best figures by a New Zealand bowler on ODI debut with 4 for 20 and Kane Williamson proved a surprise package with the ball as South Africa were put under pressure for the first time since the Twenty20 series. McClenaghan took two in his first spell to leave the home side on the back foot and despite a half-century from Faf du Plessis they could never break free at any point during the innings.
It was a curious display from South Africa, perhaps with a hint of complacency after their dominance in the Tests, with the tone set by Hashim Amla's ugly shot across the line. When AB de Villiers was lbw they were 37 for 3 and forced to rebuild, but each time a partnership started to form New Zealand broke though. Williamson's performance was a huge bonus for the visitors as he claimed a career-best four wickets with his part-time offspin as the gamble of playing a host of allrounders paid off, at least for first half of the match.
Williamson's first three scalps were all set batsmen: Colin Ingram, brilliantly caught off a top-edged sweep, Ryan McLaren who probably did not get an edge and the key figure of du Plessis taken at deep midwicket. South Africa, though, were given a late lift by Rory Kleinveldt who took three sixes in four balls off the inconsistent Kyle Mills until falling to Williamson.
The early signs were not promising for New Zealand. In the opening over, Graeme Smith was dropped at first slip where Rob Nicol was slow to react to a flashing edge off Mills. Then they could have removed Amla for 10 but declined to use the DRS after an lbw shout was turned down. But neither error proved costly.
Amla, who had wanted to be aggressive from the start, played across the line at Mills and although he did opt for the review it did not save him with the ball hitting leg stump. Smith soon followed in familiar style, falling across his front pad, to give McClenaghan a first ODI wicket.
McClenaghan impressed in the Twenty20 series and was unlucky not to earn a chance in the Test matches. He continued to make life hard work and was rewarded again when he made one shape back enough to de Villiers to gain another lbw decision. De Villiers did not appear pleased but replays showed it had pitched in line.
Ingram, given the job of No. 3 with Jacques Kallis rested, struggled to get his innings going but was also conscious of not giving New Zealand another breakthrough. He and du Plessis set about the rebuilding job as New Zealand turned to their back-up bowling.
However, just as a partnership was forming and the depth of New Zealand's bowling started to look an issue, Williamson popped up with his first bonus wicket when Ingram tried to clear the leg side with a sweep and Nathan McCullum ran back to take a superb catch over his shoulder.
New Zealand missed a chance to run out debutant Quinton de Kock and he was also dropped at slip by Martin Guptill in what was a chalk-and-cheese fielding display. The contrast was on display when Nathan McCullum claimed his second excellent catch, this time low at mid-on, to remove de Kock as he tried to drive down the ground.
Du Plessis and Ryan McLaren formed the best stand of the innings, adding 59 for the sixth wicket, which included taking 41 off the Powerplay but South Africa felt a frontline batsman light as they did in the one-day series against England last year. The stand had given them hope of pushing towards 250 when Williamson derailed those ambitions with wickets in consecutive overs, although HotSpot supported McLaren's frustration at his dismissal.
McClenaghan, meanwhile, had returned to pin Robin Peterson lbw and produced a lovely ball to take Dale Steyn's off stump. At that moment 200 looked out of range but Kleinveldt's hitting crossed that barrier although South Africa still failed to bat out their overs.
Mitchell McClenaghan was impressive in his debut ODI © AFP
South Africa made a strong attempt at defending 208 in Paarl as New Zealand's top order struggled in familiar fashion. Lonwabo Tsotsobe claimed two early wickets then, amid a power failure that left the DRS unusable, Brendon McCullum was lbw to Rory Kleinveldt as the chase stumbled to 102 for 5.
New Zealand's pursuit began in shambolic style when Martin Guptill was run out without facing a ball as AB de Villiers slotted straight back into life as an outfielder. Rob Nicol dropped the ball into the off side and there was never a single on offer, especially with a fielder of de Villiers' prowess in the action and South Africa's captain hit direct with two stumps to aim at.
BJ Watling should have gone two balls later but Graeme Smith, unusually stood at second slip, dropped an edge to his left although he made amends next over when he collected a chance offered by Nicol as he pushed forward at Tsotsobe.
Dale Steyn, with two maidens in an opening three-over spell, and Tsotsobe maintained the pressure although the required rate was never something to overly concern New Zealand. However, wickets lost were a concern. Kane Williamson's poor form continued when he sliced his cut shot to backward point and another swift collapse was on the cards.
But Watling and Brendon McCullum, batting at No. 5, fought hard to stabilise the innings as they added 52. It was hard work with just the occasional release, such as when Ryan McLaren offered a free hit which McCullum sent for six.
A power cut at the ground as then South Africa's cue to surge. Kleinveldt nipped one back into McCullum to trap him lbw - the New Zealand captain as unable to review because of the lack of TV coverage - and had a second when Grant Elliott flapped weakly to give Smith his 100th catch in ODIs.
South Africa 208 (du Plessis 57, McClenaghan 4-20 Williamson 4-22) v New Zealand
Mitchell McClenaghan claimed the best figures by a New Zealand bowler on ODI debut with 4 for 20 and Kane Williamson proved a surprise package with the ball as South Africa were put under pressure for the first time since the Twenty20 series. McClenaghan took two in his first spell to leave the home side on the back foot and despite a half-century from Faf du Plessis they could never break free at any point during the innings.
It was a curious display from South Africa, perhaps with a hint of complacency after their dominance in the Tests, with the tone set by Hashim Amla's ugly shot across the line. When AB de Villiers was lbw they were 37 for 3 and forced to rebuild, but each time a partnership started to form New Zealand broke though. Williamson's performance was a huge bonus for the visitors as he claimed a career-best four wickets with his part-time offspin as the gamble of playing a host of allrounders paid off, at least for first half of the match.
Williamson's first three scalps were all set batsmen: Colin Ingram, brilliantly caught off a top-edged sweep, Ryan McLaren who probably did not get an edge and the key figure of du Plessis taken at deep midwicket. South Africa, though, were given a late lift by Rory Kleinveldt who took three sixes in four balls off the inconsistent Kyle Mills until falling to Williamson.
The early signs were not promising for New Zealand. In the opening over, Graeme Smith was dropped at first slip where Rob Nicol was slow to react to a flashing edge off Mills. Then they could have removed Amla for 10 but declined to use the DRS after an lbw shout was turned down. But neither error proved costly.
Amla, who had wanted to be aggressive from the start, played across the line at Mills and although he did opt for the review it did not save him with the ball hitting leg stump. Smith soon followed in familiar style, falling across his front pad, to give McClenaghan a first ODI wicket.
McClenaghan impressed in the Twenty20 series and was unlucky not to earn a chance in the Test matches. He continued to make life hard work and was rewarded again when he made one shape back enough to de Villiers to gain another lbw decision. De Villiers did not appear pleased but replays showed it had pitched in line.
Ingram, given the job of No. 3 with Jacques Kallis rested, struggled to get his innings going but was also conscious of not giving New Zealand another breakthrough. He and du Plessis set about the rebuilding job as New Zealand turned to their back-up bowling.
However, just as a partnership was forming and the depth of New Zealand's bowling started to look an issue, Williamson popped up with his first bonus wicket when Ingram tried to clear the leg side with a sweep and Nathan McCullum ran back to take a superb catch over his shoulder.
New Zealand missed a chance to run out debutant Quinton de Kock and he was also dropped at slip by Martin Guptill in what was a chalk-and-cheese fielding display. The contrast was on display when Nathan McCullum claimed his second excellent catch, this time low at mid-on, to remove de Kock as he tried to drive down the ground.
Du Plessis and Ryan McLaren formed the best stand of the innings, adding 59 for the sixth wicket, which included taking 41 off the Powerplay but South Africa felt a frontline batsman light as they did in the one-day series against England last year. The stand had given them hope of pushing towards 250 when Williamson derailed those ambitions with wickets in consecutive overs, although HotSpot supported McLaren's frustration at his dismissal.
McClenaghan, meanwhile, had returned to pin Robin Peterson lbw and produced a lovely ball to take Dale Steyn's off stump. At that moment 200 looked out of range but Kleinveldt's hitting crossed that barrier although South Africa still failed to bat out their overs.