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25 overs New Zealand 106 for 2 (Williamson 66*, Elliott 26* v South Africa
Rory Kleinveldt made an early breakthrough for South Africa © AFP
This tour has seen New Zealand's cricketing credibility plummet but a first ODI series win would do much to repair their reputation. Victory in Kimberley would secure the series and they set about their task in controlled fashion.
In the Tests and opening ODI, their batting was constantly fighting against a tide of early wickets and, even though they lost Martin Guptill in the third over, there was a concerted effort to get into the innings. As such, only 19 runs came off the first ten overs on a hard, flat, grassless surface but they recovered to reach 106 for 2.
South Africa bowled accurately but there was an over-cautious attitude, understandably born out of previous premature collapses. However, setting a platform is the throwback tactics now favoured with the new fielding regulations in place and New Zealand set themselves up to press on in a fashion not seen before on this tour.
Kane Williamson was the chief instigator of the 62 runs that were scored in the 10 overs outside the Powerplay. He drove with excellent timing, initially to Rory Kleinveldt's first overpitched delivery and then against Ryan McLaren as the change of bowling saw New Zealand raise the tempo. Williamson cut him wide of third man and dispatched two half-volleys through the covers - 26 came of three McLaren overs.
Williamson lifted Robin Peterson wide of long-on to raise his fourth ODI fifty and put New Zealand in a promising position at the half-way mark.
But it had been a familiar sight as he was walked out in the third over. Guptill made another duck but at least managed to face a delivery after being run out without facing in Paarl. But a 10-ball nought probably looked worse as he spooned a catch to point having failed to get inside a back-of-a-length ball from Kleinveldt that arrived quickly on him.
BJ Watling was the second wicket to fall having been promoted to open for the seventh time in ODIs. He could have been run out by a brilliant piece of work by Peterson, gathering, pirouetting and clipping the bails with his throw from mid-off after Watling had run immediately after timing a drive well in the tenth over. But walking across his stumps, Watling fell lbw to become Morne Morkel's 100th ODI wicket.
Lacklustre in the opening match, South Africa were markedly more alert in getting through the overs quicker. They are looking to bounce back without Hashim Amla. He strained his right quadriceps in training on Monday but the injury flared up overnight. It was not the news Faf du Plessis was looking for in his first match as captain of the ODI side; AB de Villiers having been suspended for a criminally slow over rate in Paarl - David Miller took his place.
Better news for du Plessis came at the toss - which he took two goes at performing correctly - he won and chose to bowl. History suggests chasing is favourable at Kimberley with only two sides failing to win batting second in the 11 ODIs played on the ground: and they were Kenya and Namibia.
Rory Kleinveldt made an early breakthrough for South Africa © AFP
This tour has seen New Zealand's cricketing credibility plummet but a first ODI series win would do much to repair their reputation. Victory in Kimberley would secure the series and they set about their task in controlled fashion.
In the Tests and opening ODI, their batting was constantly fighting against a tide of early wickets and, even though they lost Martin Guptill in the third over, there was a concerted effort to get into the innings. As such, only 19 runs came off the first ten overs on a hard, flat, grassless surface but they recovered to reach 106 for 2.
South Africa bowled accurately but there was an over-cautious attitude, understandably born out of previous premature collapses. However, setting a platform is the throwback tactics now favoured with the new fielding regulations in place and New Zealand set themselves up to press on in a fashion not seen before on this tour.
Kane Williamson was the chief instigator of the 62 runs that were scored in the 10 overs outside the Powerplay. He drove with excellent timing, initially to Rory Kleinveldt's first overpitched delivery and then against Ryan McLaren as the change of bowling saw New Zealand raise the tempo. Williamson cut him wide of third man and dispatched two half-volleys through the covers - 26 came of three McLaren overs.
Williamson lifted Robin Peterson wide of long-on to raise his fourth ODI fifty and put New Zealand in a promising position at the half-way mark.
But it had been a familiar sight as he was walked out in the third over. Guptill made another duck but at least managed to face a delivery after being run out without facing in Paarl. But a 10-ball nought probably looked worse as he spooned a catch to point having failed to get inside a back-of-a-length ball from Kleinveldt that arrived quickly on him.
BJ Watling was the second wicket to fall having been promoted to open for the seventh time in ODIs. He could have been run out by a brilliant piece of work by Peterson, gathering, pirouetting and clipping the bails with his throw from mid-off after Watling had run immediately after timing a drive well in the tenth over. But walking across his stumps, Watling fell lbw to become Morne Morkel's 100th ODI wicket.
Lacklustre in the opening match, South Africa were markedly more alert in getting through the overs quicker. They are looking to bounce back without Hashim Amla. He strained his right quadriceps in training on Monday but the injury flared up overnight. It was not the news Faf du Plessis was looking for in his first match as captain of the ODI side; AB de Villiers having been suspended for a criminally slow over rate in Paarl - David Miller took his place.
Better news for du Plessis came at the toss - which he took two goes at performing correctly - he won and chose to bowl. History suggests chasing is favourable at Kimberley with only two sides failing to win batting second in the 11 ODIs played on the ground: and they were Kenya and Namibia.