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New Zealand were handed a 6-wicket loss by South Africa in the 1st ODI of the 3-match series at Mount Maunganui, but there was one individual performance which brought smile on the faces of Kiwis.
Wicket-keeper Luke Ronchi walked in to bat when New Zealand were struggling at 68/5. He was involved in a 65-run partnership with Tom Latham in just 11 overs, but one Latham departed, the lower order collapsed to 156/9 in the 35th over. With just No. 11 Trent Boult for company, Ronchi went into counter-attacking mode. He reached 98 off 81 deliveries with 11 fours and 3 sixes.
Selfless decision
Off the last ball of the 45th over, Ronchi could have easily taken a couple of runs and completed his hundred, but he refused the second run in order to retain the strike for the next over and shield No. 11 Boult from Dale Steyn.
However, it was a sad end for the Kiwi when on the first ball of the next over, he edged a delivery from Steyn behind the wicket to be dismissed on 99. Steyn patted him on his way back, appreciating his brilliant effort. New Zealand were all out for 230.
This was Ronchi’s highest score in ODI cricket. Having played 24 ODIs and 13 T20Is, the 33-year-old hasn’t scored an international hundred in his career so far.
Skip to 4:46 to watch the moment:
This effort however was not enough to save New Zealand from defeat as South Africa chased down the target in 49th over, riding on skipper AB de Villiers 89 off 85 balls, and JP Duminy’s 58.
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