South Africa make light work of New Zealand in 1st T20I

Morne van Wyk attempts to run out Grant Elliot during the 1^st T20I

South Africa chased down the target of 152 set by New Zealand in the 1^st T20I, winning the match by 6 wickets and 2.1 overs to spare.

Opener Hashim Amla (48 off 41 balls) anchored one end of the innings in the South African chase, while his partners went for aggressive shots

AB de Villiers, returning to action after a break from cricket, scored a brisk 33 off 21 balls to set the tone for the chase. Rilee Rossouw (38 off 20 balls) came in to bat after De Villiers, and launched a scathing attack on the bowlers, removing all doubts that the Kiwis could come back into the game.

Rossouw and Amla fell in the 17^th and 18^th overs, but it was too little too late. David Miller and Farhaan Behardien came out to hit the winning runs, the target having being achieved with two full overs left to play.

Earlier, the New Zealand openers Martin Guptill (42 off 37 balls) and Kane Williamson (42 off 21 balls) gave the Kiwis a blistering start, reaching 68/0 in the 7^th over. Thereafter, some sharp fielding and catching from the South African unit led to a capitulation.

A last over six by Doug Bracewell meant that New Zealand would cross the 150-mark, but it was a sorry return after the wonderful opening stand.

David Wiese, Kagiso Rabada and Aaron Phangiso claimed 2 wickets each, with sharp fielding effecting two run outs – including a sensational Wiese direct hit from the edge of the circle.