NZ V SRI LANKA
The Wanderers, 8.30pm tomorrow
New Zealand face an uphill task to continue a proud record in one-day cricket after South Africa outclassed them at the Champions Trophy tournament in South Africa.
South Africa won by five wickets with nine overs to spare at Centurion after a bottom order collapse saw New Zealand, sent in to bat first, muster just 214 in 47.5 overs.
They now need to beat Sri Lanka, who dominated the Black Caps on their recent tour to the subcontinent, and England to progress from group B to the knockout phase.
New Zealand have been unable to repeat the crowning glory of their Champions Trophy final victory in 2000, but were semifinalists in the last tournament in 2006 and at the World Cup in 2007. Since then their form in the 50-over format has slumped.
South Africa looked in control throughout, apart from when Ross Taylor and Grant Elliott combined for a 71-run stand for the fourth wicket before New Zealand's last five wickets fell for just 11 runs.
New Zealand may have done a better job of defending an inadequate total had Jeetan Patel been employed as a second specialist spinner on a pitch offering turn and inconsistent bounce.
Skipper Daniel Vettori defended the decision to play backup wicketkeeper Gareth Hopkins as a specialist batsman instead of Patel, saying he would have played had allrounder Jacob Oram been fit.
"Jake offers us that balance. Without him, we felt we needed an extra batsman," Vettori said.
Oram missed the match due to a hamstring strain and his fitness is being monitored ahead of the next group match against Sri Lanka tomorrow.
Taylor toiled to hold the New Zealand innings together, topscoring with 72 off 106 balls, his 11th one-day half-century, while Brendon McCullum, with 44, and Elliott, 39, were best of the rest.
McCullum played within himself as he guided his side towards 100 inside 25 overs but fell when well set after top-edging a sweep off spinner Johan Botha.
His 68-ball innings featured three fours and two sixes, before the onus went on the middle order with New Zealand 92 for three in the 24th over.
Taylor and Elliott looked to turn the tide and were progressing well before their stubborn fourth wicket stand ended when South African-born Elliott played the wrong line and his middle stump was pushed back by a deceptive delivery from left-arm spinner Roelof van der Merwe.
Taylor's innings ended when he missed a low full toss and was trapped leg before by left-arm fast bowler Wayne Parnell, who later helped mop up the tail to finish with career-best figures of five for 57 to pick up the man-of-the-match honours.
"Our batsmen got bogged down as we sought a competitive score of about 250 runs," Vettori said.
"Ross and Grant handled the spinners well but the partnership did not last long enough."
South Africa were untroubled chasing a small target with AB de Villiers proving the matchwinner as he sealed success with a four having topscored with an unbeaten 70 in 76 balls, including nine boundaries.
Hashim Amla, with 38, and Jacques Kallis, 36, earlier helped keep the score ticking over.
The glovework of McCullum was the highlight in the field for New Zealand as he took three catches off pace bowlers Shane Bond, Daryl Tuffey and Kyle Mills.
- NZPA
