The third and final ODI of the series between New Zealand and South Africa scheduled for Seddon Park, Hamilton has been rendered a “dead rubber” as far as the current series is concerned, by the tourists win in the second match in Mount Maunganui, which gave them a winning 2-0 lead.
The Kiwis certainly contributed to their own downfall in the second game, which they lost by 72 runs, by some overly generous fielding during the Proteas innings, when they rattled up 282 for 9, and another woeful batting display as they replied with just 210.
Hashim Amla was missed twice as he completed a 16th ODI century, while the home side’s reply was a continuous tumble of wickets, until the last pair of Luke Ronchi and Mitchell McClenaghan set a new record for the Kiwis’ last wicket in ODIs, their partnership being worth 76.
The Black Caps have certainly been affected by the loss of two of their leading batsmen, Ross Taylor and Kane Williamson, and without them, the top order looks too short of experience to tackle one of the best bowling attacks in the world.
Even the last wicket heroics may in part be put down to Proteas captain AB de Villiers’ desire to give his part-time bowlers some match practice. Indeed de Villiers himself bowled six overs and took 2 for 28.
The tourist’s Aaron Phangiso has been ruled out of the rest of their trip to New Zealand and Australia, having sprained a finger which will put him out for some 4-6 weeks.
His replacement, the 35 year old Robin Peterson, who last played an ODI for his country in November last year, may just have been thrown a World Cup lifeline.
Although he has played Test cricket since he played an ODI, Peterson seemed to have dropped behind Imran Tahir, Phangiso and Dane Piedt in the Proteas pecking order, and he has missed out more recently on squads that have toured Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe in July-August.