108 to 80: Fleming wins day of skippers’ knocks

Captain Stephen Fleming smashed a brilliant century to guide New Zealand to a five-wicket win against South Africa in a one-day internationa...

Captain Stephen Fleming smashed a brilliant century to guide New Zealand to a five-wicket win against South Africa in a one-day international on Tuesday. Fleming’s 108, which featured 10 fours and two sixes, helped the hosts to level the six-match series at 1-1. The hosts easily surpassed their victory target of 254 with more than four overs to spare.

South African skipper Graeme Smith had earlier climbed out of his sickbed to score a defiant 80 in the tourists’ 253 for eight.

Having passed the 6,000 runs mark in one-day internationals, Fleming was out with the score on 226. New Zealand reached their target without losing another wicket. Craig McMillan supported Fleming with a quickfire 70, which included eight boundaries and two sixes, his 20th half-century in one-dayers.

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With New Zealand losing opener Michael Papps and the promoted Brendon McCullum, both for two before the team had scored 20, Fleming dug deep to stabilise the innings.

He consolidated with Hamish Marshall (18), who was dismissed when he ballooned a simple catch to Jacques Rudolph at mid-on, and Scott Styris, who was caught by Herschelle Gibbs low down at point on 24.

When Styris was out with the score on 124, New Zealand were only halfway to the target. However, McMillan and Fleming took the hosts to a strong position before Chris Cairns smashed the winning run with a huge six over bowler Andre Nel’s head.

South African opener Smith was suffering from a heavy cold on Monday but made himself available on the morning of the match. After electing to bat on a drop-in pitch that was difficult to read, South Africa’s start may have led Smith to wish he had stayed in bed.