Twenty20 International South Africa v New Zealand 2007-08 Neil Manthorp

Almanack home 2008 home

At Johannesburg, November 23, 2007 (floodlit). South Africa won by three wickets. Toss: South Africa. Twenty20 international debuts: D. W. Steyn; G. J. Hopkins, J. M. How.

The New Zealanders were grateful for the fancy-dress party that followed what had been an awful Test series for them, and almost responded with a victory. Although they lost in the end they took heart from a competitive performance. Styris added some calmness from 45 for three, but it was Mills who gave the Kiwis an outside chance, with some genuine shots in his tailend hitting. South Africa seemed to be coasting at 89 for three in the 13th over, with only 41 needed - but the spinners, Patel and Vettori, shrewdly strangled a couple of overs each, and it was left to Botha, at No. 9, to smack the penultimate ball to the midwicket boundary to secure the win.

Man of the Match: A. B. de Villiers.

Neil Manthorp is a South African broadcaster and journalist, and head of the MWP Sport agency

© Wisden Cricketers' Almanack

Matches

South Africa v New Zealand at Johannesburg

Series/Tournaments

New Zealand tour of South Africa

Teams

New Zealand

South Africa