“It’s a little bit early to be playing cricket in South Africa but once again it’s a challenge to test ourselves and the way we can adapt in games like this”, he said. South Africa and New Zealand are probably the most well equipped T20 sides in the world right now as they have all the necessary resources to topple and brush aside any team. He was caught behind off Mitchell McClenaghan, bad news for his future given Quinton de Kock has returned to form with the A-side in India. However, New Zealand showed that it is no pushover in the T20I series. Phangiso’s innovation came after South Africa’s seamers were usually into a contrary get started on and enabled Martin Guptill and Williamson to pay off.
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The first ODI will begin on Thursday night (NZT) at Centurion, the same venue where New Zealand scored a 32-run win to square the T20 series.
South Africa were forced into a late change when captain Faf de Plessis pulled out with a knee injury, passing the captaincy to their regular ODI skipper AB de Villiers.
Rabada took two wickets in the 19th over to stop the charge, as he got Munro superbly caught by D Villiers in the deep (running back and catching it while looking over his shoulder) and then bowling Neesham with the next ball.
Spin again played a role in gaining South Africa some control, though the effect of Eddie Leie and Aaron Phangiso’s impact wasn’t as profound as it was at Kingsmead. South Africa slowed New Zealand’s speedy start, which saw them race to 63 without loss after seven overs, to ensure they only added another 88 runs in the remaining 13 overs.
Despite being the stand-in captain, De Villiers was satisfied with the progress of the T20 squad ahead of an important season, particularly the performances from some of the upcoming players including Kagiso Rabada, David Wiese and Rilee Rossouw.
Scoreboard pressure increased when they found the boundary only four times in the five overs that followed and Behardien, although comfortable, through caution to the wind.
The two teams enter the one-day series on the back of a 1-1 result in the two Twenty20 matches.
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The conditions are not so familiar with the series, which also includes games at Potchefstroom and Durban, taking place during the South African winter.
