South Africa coasted to a clinical six-wicket one-day cricket win over New Zealand at Napier’s McLean Park, wrapping up the three-match series with a game to spare.
Opener Hashim Amla’s 92 off 107 balls underlined a dominant performance from the Proteas, building on Saturday’s six-wicket win in Wellington.
Set an underwhelming 231 for victory after winning the toss, the South Africans needed only 38.2 overs to secure the win, although Kyle Mills raised New Zealand hopes briefly in the third over when Jacques Kallis (4) collected an inside edge and Brendon McCullum took a superb diving catch behind the stumps.
Leg spinner Tarun Nethula’s length and variation made him the pick of the New Zealand bowlers.
Despite going for 60 runs off his 10 overs, he was rewarded with two prime wickets.
He picked up JP Duminy (43) with the last ball of the 26th over, creating a leading edge and making no mistake with the return catch.
Then, as Amla closed in on his century, Nethula caught another edge and McCullum gloved the regulation catch.
But captain AB de Villiers (31) and Justin Ontong (17), in for an injured Graeme Smith, were untroubled in seeing South Africa home.
New Zealand had looked well in control early in their innings as Martin Guptill (58) and McCullum put on 107 for the second wicket, but were bowled out for 230 with 15 balls remaining.
Cruising at 2-163 at the end of the 32nd over, New Zealand’s hopes of setting a 300-plus target evaporated after a disastrous power play.
From the 33rd over, New Zealand lost three wickets for the addition of only 20 runs, leftarmer Lonwabo Tsotsobe picking up the key scalps of Kane Williamson (13) and McCullum (85).
Dale Steyn completed New Zealand’s power play misery when Jesse Ryder edged a regulation catch to de Villiers behind the stumps, leaving the Black Caps floundering at 5-179.
Paceman Morne Morkel then cleaned up the last five wickets for 46 runs for his first five-wicket haul in the 50-over game.
The third ODI will be played in Auckland on Saturday before the South Africans begin a three-Test series in Dunedin on March 7.