Your essential guide to the second ODI between the Proteas and the Black Caps on Wednesday.
SCENESETTER
The Proteas have the chance to make history. Currently on a 12-match win streak, they can surpass their streak from 2005 to gain the second-longest ODI run outright, behind Australia’s 21-match streak in 2003. A run that started with victory against Ireland back in September, the Proteas have achieved whitewash series victories against Australia and Sri Lanka, and now they have the chance to go 2-0 up against the Black Caps.
They were stretched on a tricky pitch in Hamilton, but the composure of AB de Villiers and Andile Phehlukwayo saw them home. On a pitch that has seen 300-plus scores posted in five of the past ODIs at Hagley Park, and in conditions that are expected to be warm and rain-free, this contest should be easier for the batsmen.
There’s a couple of players who will be very keen to impress in this match for the Proteas. JP Duminy is under plenty of pressure to contribute in what has been an otherwise settled and in-form top six. Parnell will want to respond from being dropped for the first match, and Imran Tahir, who had a rare, wicketless match on Sunday, will want to show the IPL franchises what they’re missing out on after he was snubbed.
FORM
New Zealand: WWWWL
South Africa: WWWWW
POSSIBLE TEAMS
David Miller remains a doubt after having his finger assessed. Tabraiz Shamsi is likely to miss out, with a seamer coming in. It will be a battle between Wayne Parnell and Dwaine Pretorius, who has flown out after the birth of his child.
New Zealand are likely to keep their same XI, but might consider an extra paceman, with Ish Sodhi’s place under threat.
New Zealand: 1 Dean Brownlie, 2 Tom Latham (wk), 3 Kane Williamson (c), 4 Ross Taylor, 5 Neil Broom, 6 James Neesham, 7 Colin de Grandhomme, 8 Mitchell Santner, 9 Ish Sodhi/Lockie Ferguson, 10 Tim Southee, 11 Trent Boult
South Africa: 1 Hashim Amla, 2 Quinton de Kock (wk), 3 Faf du Plessis, 4 AB de Villiers (capt), 5 JP Duminy, 6 Farhaan Behardien, 7 Chris Morris, 8 Wayne Parnell, 9 Andile Phehlukwayo, 10 Kagiso Rabada, 11 Imran Tahir
STATS
– AB de Villiers needs 50 runs to become the fastest to 9 000 in ODIs. He has played 203 matches compared to Sourav Ganguly, who is currently the fastest with 228 innings.
– This the Proteas’ first international match at Hagley Oval. The last time they played in Christchurch was in the 2nd ODI against NZ at the AMI Stadium, then named Jade Park, in 2004.
– The highest total (341-9) at Hagley Oval was set by Scotland against Canada in a World Cup Qualifying match in 2013-14.
– The lowest total at the ground was set by Sri Lanka (177) against New Zealand in 2015.
– Both AB de Villiers and Hashim Amla could reach 25 centuries as they compete for the most 100s by a South African.
– Dave Callaghan holds the highest score between the two sides since 1994 – 169 not out.
QUOTES
Trent Boult after the IPL auction: ’It’s just bizarre. A huge honour, but my focus is still heavily on concentrating on the game tomorrow.’
Proteas batting coach Neil McKenzie: ‘New Zealand don’t give you much, they’re a seriously good fielding unit and all New Zealand sides seem a close-knit bunch of guys and really fight.’
AB de Villiers on equaling their ODI win streak record: ‘We don’t play for those kind of records, but it’s a nice one to have, we are very well aware of it. We’re really proud of that record and hopefully we can continue that.’
Phehlukwayo on his death-batting: ‘I had the belief that I can do it the second time. If I can do it more consistently, that is something that I would like to do a lot more. It helps batting with a lot of players who are more experienced. If I am in that situation again I think I can take it on myself if AB or Miller are not there.’
READ HERE: Duminy under pressure.
Photo: Anthony Au-Yeung/Gallo Images
