South Africa wraps up tri-nations series

Victory is ours!

South Africa continued its domination of New Zealand in limited-overs cricket on Friday, winning the tri-series tournament and the 14th of the last 15 matches between the teams. South Africa, which made 173-4, successfully chasing its revised target of 172 after earlier bowling out New Zealand for 175, has won 22 of 30 one-day matches against New Zealand.

The Proteas won five of its six matches against New Zealand in this series that included Australia and coasted through the finals by restricting New Zealand to fewer than 200 runs in both matches. After bowling out the Kiwis for 190 in Melbourne on Wednesday for an eight-wicket win in the first final, South Africa bowled out the Black Caps for 175 on Friday, a score not helped by New Zealand's panic attack as a thunderstorm approached the ground.

South Africa now heads home in a confident mood for a three-test series in South Africa against Australia. New Zealand will face England in the first of five one-dayers at home on Wednesday ahead of a three-test series.

As the thunderstorm approached the Sydney Cricket Ground today, Stephen Fleming, the New Zealand skipper and Lou Vincent, rookie opener, went on the offensive, blasting 36 runs in the space of three overs to set the platform for a good score. They added 51 runs in 37 balls for the third wicket and took New Zealand's run rate close to five per over when Vincent departed in
the 14th over with the score on 68.

Vincent made 43 off 42 balls after being held scoreless for his first 13 and faced a total 27 dot balls in his innings. Fleming (17 off 17) followed at the same score, falling victim to perfect placement as he swivelled and pulled a catch to Boeta Dippenaar at short fine leg off the bowling of Allan Donald.

New Zealand next lost Craig McMillan (0) to be 75-5 when the storm finally hit. The ground was drenched in rain and bombarded by hailstones until it resembled an ice rink and it took a supreme effort from the ground staff to restrict the time loss to 90 minutes. Chris Cairns (57) and Chris Harris (31) kept the innings alive with a 75-run stand until Lance Klusener (2-20) and Donald (3-29) both found themselves on a hat-trick in the 35th and 39th overs respectively.

Neither could get his hat-trick but the dual double blows ensured Cairns ran out of partners and New Zealand ran out of wickets before it ran out of overs. South Africa's chase began in blazing fashion, with Herschelle Gibbs flashing his bat for 46 runs off 51 balls. With the impetus he gave the innings, it was no trouble for Jonty Rhodes to guide his team to victory. Rhodes finished on 61 not out off 68 balls as he and Mark Boucher (16 off six) rushed to the victory by taking 42 runs off the last 20 balls of the match.

Fleming said his side had played poorly since a great start to the season when it challenged Australia in three tests and won three of its opening four one-dayers.

"We're pretty disappointed with the way things have finished," Fleming said. "It's been a tournament of two halves for us and we petered out a little bit after having done something special at the start."

Fleming praised the emergence of fast bowler Shane Bond, who was named man of the series after his haul of 21 wickets in his first international season. - Sapa