A brilliant hundred by the Kiwi skipper Kane Williamson and a solid 60 by Colin de Grandhomme enabled New Zealand to register a four-wicket win over South Africa in a keenly contested match at Edgbaston, Birmingham, on Wednesday.

Needing 8-runs to win in the last over, New Zealand skipper Kane Williamson (106 n.o., 138b, 9×4, 1×6), scored a massive six over mid-wicket off the 2nd ball and followed it up with a boundary off Andile Phehlukwayo, to signal his team’s win.

In a match reduced to 49 overs, due to wet outfield, New Zealand won the toss and elected to field first. South Africa started badly losing opener Quinton de Kock (5) early (1-9). Hashim Amla (55, 83b, 4×4) and skipper Faf du Plessis (23, 35b, 4×4) added 50-runs for the second wicket. Aiden Markram (38, 55b, 4×4), Rassie van der Dussen (67 n.o., 64b, 2×4, 3×6) and David Miller 36 (37b, 2×4, 1×6) batted well to enable South Africa to post a total of 241 for six in 49 overs. Lockie Ferguson impressed for New Zealand taking three for 59.

New Zealand, in reply, got off to a shaky start losing opener Colin Munro (9) early (1-12). Martin Guptill (35, 59b, 5×4) and skipper Williamson (106 n.o.) added 60-runs for the second wicket, but New Zealand lost the wickets of Ross Taylor (1), Tom Latham (1) and James Neesham (23) quickly and were reduced to 137 for five at one stage.

A brilliant fight-back by the Kiwis enabled them to surpass the target and ended scoring 245 for six in 48.3 overs. Colin de Grandhomme’s 60 (47b,5×4, 2×6) and Williamson added a valuable 91-runs for the sixth wicket which helped their team’s cause.

New Zealand tops the points table with nine points from five games. England is in the second place with 8 points from five games. Australia is placed third with 8 points from five games and India is in the fourth place with 7 points from four games.

SCORES

South Africa: 241 for 6 in 49 overs (Hashim Amla 55, Faf du Plessis 23, Aiden Markram 38, Rassie van der Dussen 67 n.o., David Miller 36, Lockie Ferguson 3 for 59) lost to New Zealand: 245 for 6 in 48.3 overs (Martin Guptill 35, Kane Williamson 106 n.o, James Neesham 23, Colin de Grandhomme 60, Chris Morris 3 for 49). Player of the Match: Kane Williamson.