Graeme Smith stars as South Africa beat New Zealand by 1 wicket in the final ODI

Ryan McLaren cracked a six off the last  ball of the match as South Africa prevent  a one-day international series whitewash at the hands of New Zealand with a remarkable one wicket victory at Potchefstroom. 

South Africa looked to have wasted Graeme Smith's excellent  116 runs  at the top of the innings when, in pursuit of 261 runs for victory, they drooping from 229 for 5 to 258 for 9 to be left needing three off the last  delivery  to take the win.

McLaren's 25 not out proved vital as wickets tumbled around him and followed an inspiring bowling spell by the all rounder as he take 4 for 52 in New Zealand's 260 for 9.

This  was Smith who provided the spine of South Africa's flourishing run chase, though. The Test captain struck 14 fours in scoring 116 runs  and looked to have steered the side  into a winning position.

New Zealand, cheerful after pocketing their 1st ODI series win in South Africa on Tuesday, had earlier built what looked a defendable total thanks to fifties  from Grant Elliott (54), Colin Munro (57) and James Franklin (53 *). McLaren fine bowling  with four wickets, as did Lonwabo Tsotsobe who ended with 4 for 45 off his 10 overs spell.Graeme Smith named for the Man of the Match Award.

Kane Williamson guide New Zealand's first ever series win at South Africa

New Zealand skipper Brendon McCullum on Tuesday claimed  one of his country's most excellent one-day series wins  and an brilliant  innings by Kane Williamson which made win possible over South Africa.

Kane Williamson smashed  145 not out to set up a 27 runs win for New Zealand in the 2nd  one day international   at the Diamond Oval. This win leads  the New Zealand  a winning 2-0 lead in the three match series and was a major turn for a team who were crushed  by an innings in both Test matches.

Kane Williamson bounced back from a unsatisfactory Test series with a confident, stroke filled career-best innings in a New Zealand total of 8 for 279. There was a record total of five run-outs as the South Africa  limped to 252 runs  all out in reply.

Kane Williamson and Grant Elliott (48) laid the base for New Zealand's total with a 3rd wicket stand of 127 runs from  128 balls. South Africa at one  in control as Graeme Smith and Colin Ingram put on 139 runs partnership  for the 2nd  wicket. Kane Williamson named for the Man of the Match award for his career best Century.

New Zealand thriller win against South Africa in the first ODI

James Franklin batted brilliantly with the tail to secure a nervous one wicket upset win for New Zealand in the 1st  one day international against South Africa at Boland Park on Saturday.

James Franklin made unbeaten  47  as the final  three New Zealand wickets added 104 runs in a low-scoring match after South Africa had been all  out for 208.

Franklin  put on 35 runs  for the 8th  wicket with Nathan McCullum (24) and 47 runs  for the ninth wicket with Kyle Mills. When Kyle Mills was bowled by Ryan McLaren for 26 runs  there were still 22 runs needed but Franklin successfully farmed the strike before hitting McLaren through the covers for the winning boundary.

Faf du Plessis was the top scorer with 57 runs  as South Africa were all  out for 208 runs after being sent in to bat. Then McLaren take  4 for 46. Left-arm opening bowler Mitchell McClenaghan claimed  4 for 20 on debut as New Zealand's bowlers exerted stiff control.

McClenaghan take  the important  wickets of Graeme Smith and captain AB de Villiers and followed up with two late wickets. Du Plessis made a determined 57 runs from  71 balls. James Franklin named for the Man of the Match award for his crucial innings.

South Africa wrap the Test Series with huge win

South Africa's cruel destruction of New Zealand showed why they are ranked the number one team in Test cricket, both captains agreed after the South Africa  finished an innings win in the 2nd  and final Test at St George's Park on Monday.

Fast bowlers Dale Steyn and Morne Morkel used the 2nd  new ball to upsetting effect as South Africa won by an innings and 197 runs before lunch on the fourth day. It was their second consecutive innings win against the outclassed New Zealanders.

Man of the match Steyn claimed  3 for 48 for match figures of 8 for 65 while Morkel take 2 for 36 as New Zealand were bowled out for 211 on Monday. They wanted only a combined 34 deliveries to take the last five wickets. Dean Brownlie and BJ Watling put on 98 runs  for the 5th  wicket before Brownlie was caught behind off Jacques Kallis for 53 in the tenth over of the day.

The new ball was taken three overs later and the rest of the batsmen folded quickly, with an early finish becoming inevitable when Watling was bowled by Dale Steyn for 63. The both  teams meet in three one day internationals, starts  in Paarl on Saturday, but then both face new Test challenges next month. South Africa are at home to Pakistan in three Tests while New Zealand will be hosting England.

New Zealand fight back but South Africa in control on Day 3

New Zealand fight fearlessly to move to 157 for 4 in their 2nd  innings, following on and still 247 runs behind South Africa’s 1st Innings Total, at the end  of the 3rd  day's play in the second test on Sunday.

Unbeaten pair BJ Watling (41) and Dean Brownlie (44) show  stern fighting and the duo looked relatively untroubled as they added an unbroken 5th wicket partnership of 73 runs  off 27.2 overs to steer their side  to the end  of play. Opener Martin Guptill scored  48 runs  before being bowled by seamer Rory Kleinveldt who went on to have Daniel Flynn (0) caught behind with his next ball.

Kleinveldt finished  the day with 2 for 31 while left arm spinner Robin Peterson, who accounted for Brendon McCullum (11) and Kane Williamson (11), take  2 for 29. The New Zealand  showed far more willpower with the bat than they had in their 1st  innings when they subsided to 121 all out in reply to the top ranked South Afroca  525 for 8 declared.

The first  session had belonged to fast bowler  Dale Steyn, the world's peak ranked bowler, he take  5 for 17 off in his  13 overs to bundle New Zealand out 30 minutes before lunch, at that stage trailing South Africa by 404 runs. Watling provided the one shining light for the New Zealand  in their first dig as his battling 63 runs  from  87 balls with 13 fours added some gloss to the innings.

New Zealand resumed  the day on a parlous 47 for 6 and the pair of Watling and Doug Bracewell (7) added 14 runs to the overnight total before the right-handed Bracewell prodded at a Steyn delivery to send an outside edge through to keeper De Villiers. The forceful Watling was the last man out, caught at 1st  slip off the bowling of fast bowler  Morne Morkel.

South Africa right on Top after another NZ batting collapse

New Zealand shrunken again against South Africa's fast bowling  attack when they staggered to 47 for 6 in their 1st  innings in reply to the South Africa’s  525 for 8  declared on the 2nd  day  of the second Test at St. George's Park in Port Elizabeth.

The pace duo of Dale Steyn and Rory Kleinveldt finished the day with figures of 2 for 14 and 2 for 18 respectively, while left arm spinner Robin Peterson grabbed  two wickets in two balls. Hashim Amla, Du Plessis and Dean Elgar all scored  three scored centuries  for the world's top side.

Faf Du Plessis, who began the day on 69, eventually made  137 off 252 balls including  with 14 fours and two sixes . Elgar bring up his first century, in his 3rd  Test, off what turned out to be the last ball of South Africa's innings to end not out on 103 off 170 balls  with 14 fours and a six.

Elgar and Du Plessis shared for a partnership of 131 runs  off 38.5 overs, a South African 6th wicket record stand against New Zealand. Hashim Amla  was out for 110 off 235 balls with his innings including eight fours while he and Du Plessis put on 113 runs for the 5th wicket off 36.5 overs. South Africa are already lead the series 1-0

Hashim Amla century guide South Africa in Control on Day 1

Hashim Amla position out a brilliant hundred  to gave  South Africa the benefit on the 1st  day of the 2nd  and final Test against New Zealand at St George's Park on Friday.

Hashim Amla made unbeaten  106  as South Africa reached 325 for  4  at  the end  of play. Unbeaten  century partnership between Amla and Faf du Plessis (69 not out), with some free scoring after tea, put South Africa on Top.

Hashim Amla was concerned in partnerships of 92 runs  for the 2nd  wicket with skipper  Graeme Smith and 86 runs  for the fourth wicket with de Villiers. Bracewell was the pick of the New Zealand bowlers, grabed  2  for 70 in 21 overs.

South Africa crush New Zealand in the 1st Test at Newlands

South Africa concluded an innings win over New Zealand on Friday in a result which was never in doubt after the Blackcaps  collapsed to 45 runs  all out before lunch on the first  day of the first Test at Newlands.

Dean Brownlie's maiden Test hundred  guide New Zealand to 232 for  5 at lunch on the 3rd  day after South Africa had declared their first innings closed at 347 for 8  on Thursday. However five wickets fell for just  23 runs in a lower  order collapse in the 2nd  session and the New Zealanders ended up 27 runs short of making the world number one team  bat again.

Dean Brownlie, who had been brought into the team as a alternate for Ross Taylor who opted out of the tour after he was replaced as captain by Brendon McCullum, resumed on day three with wicketkeeper BJ Watling, who was on 10.

The duo were determined in the 1st  session and a disturbed Proteas' outfit were forced to watch as Brownlie reached his century with a big six over long-off from the bowling of Robin Peterson. South Africa eventually got their man in the penultimate over before lunch as Brownlie cut a Morne Morkel delivery straight to Alviro Petersen on the point boundary having made 109.

Watling and James Franklin sustained to frustrate the Proteas in the first hour following the break as they looked to avoid an innings defeat. Three dropped catches had spoiled the hosts fielding display on day two and Franklin was next to be given a reprieve as ro Petersen grassed his second chance of the innings at gully.

A double strike by Vernon Philander shortly earlier than the drinks break crippled the New Zealand innings though, as Watling edged to first slip and was out for 42. Doug Bracewell was caught at gully for a duck to reduce the New Zealand  to 252 for 7  and Jeetan Patel (8) was clearly upset by the fearsome pace of Dale Steyn before eventually chopping on to his stumps.

The last  two wickets fell in fast succession, as Franklin too played on to his stumps for 22 having lasted 103 minutes to leave New Zealand on the brink at 274 for nine. Philander won the man of the match award for his match figures of 7 for 83, which included 5 for 7  in the 1st  innings. He has now captured  74 wickets in 13 Tests at 17.40 runs each since making his debut in November 2011.

Brownlie fights but South Africa in control on Day 2

The  unbeaten  69 runs  from Dean Brownlie guide New Zealand reach 169 for 4 in their 2nd  innings on day two of the first Test against South Africa on Thursday.

South Africa dismissed the visitors  for just 45 runs on day one, declared their first innings on 347 for 8 soon after lunch with a lead of 302 runs  and they were still 133 runs ahead at the close. But New Zealand, largely through Brownlie and captain Brendon McCullum who scored  51 runs, offered much stronger fighting second time round, reponding well to widespread censure of their woeful performance on Wednesday.

New Zealand also bowled improved in the morning session and made the ideal start when Trent Boult forced Alviro Petersen to play on after adding just three runs to his overnight score of 103. 

The restricted bowling soon accounted for Du Plessis, whose test average of 146.50 after two matches took a hit when Chris Martin had him caught at gully for 15 runs  with the score on 281. Dean Elgar received an ironical ovation from the home fans  when he made his first run in Test cricket at the third time of asking and De Villiers finished  up his 30th Test fifty with successive boundaries off Boult.

South Africa right on top after New Zealand low scoring 1st Innings

The  unbeaten century  from  Alviro Petersen leads  South Africa to  score 252 runs  for 3 after skittling New Zealand for 45 on a dominate opening day of the first  test on Wednesday.

New Zealand, determined by the storm surrounding the sacking of former captain Ross Taylor, capitulated to the South African fast bowling attack, their innings lasting in just 19.2 overs as fast bowler Vernon Philander concluded figures of five for seven.

Morne Morkel and Dale Steyn finished  the tail, the latter picking up his 300th test scalp and South Africa's wonderful day was complete when all rounder Jacques Kallis passed the milestone of 13,000 test runs shortly after tea. New Zealand's total was the eighth lowest in test history, only Kane Williamson reaching double figures with a score of 13 runs

Jacques Kallis brought the crowd to their feet when he blazed a boundary through backward point to become only the 4th  player and first South African to score 13,000 test runs. Kallis completes  to his 57th half-century but the 2nd  hundred  partnership of the innings finished when Trent Boult had the all-rounder caught behind for 60 with the total on 212 for 3.

The stylish Petersen has been criticized for failing to convert starts into big scores, but he silenced the doubters when he brought up his 5th  test hundred  in the one before the last over with a guided shot behind point for two. Petersen will resume on day two on 103 runs  with his partner AB de Villiers on 19 runs.

David, Phangiso claimed series for South Africa

The commanding batting show and restricted bowling leads South Africa to a 33 runs win over New Zealand in the third and deciding T20 International at St.George's Park on Wednesday.

Opener Henry Davids was the scorer with 68 runs from 51 balls as the Proteas posted a formidable 179-6 after winning the toss and chose to bat first. Left arm spinner Aaron Phangiso and seamer Ryan McLaren then collected identical figures of 3-25 as the Black Caps subsided to a substandard 146-9 in reply.

South Africa were briefly in trouble at 26-2 until Henry Davids was joined by Justin Ontong who belted 48 runs from 30 balls with three sixes and four during a third-wicket stand of 89 runs which laid the platform for a energetic end to the innings.

David Miller hit four boundaries in his 28 from 15 balls and Farhaan Behardien finished with an unbeaten 22 runs from just 11 balls. Martin Guptill made 24 runs and captain Brendon McCullum (25) briefly threatened to make a game of it but the run rate proved unmanageable and wickets fell steadily with the result in little doubt from the 10th over when the Black Caps drooping to 60-4.

New Zealand now play a three-day match against provincial side Boland in Paarl from December 28 in preparation for the first of two test matches starting in Cape Town on January 2.

New Zealand beat South Africa by eight wicket in D/L method

Guptill  done  101 not out from 69 balls, smashed the last ball of the match from Rory Kleinveldt over cover for four to allow New Zealand to reach a target of 169 in a match condensed to 19 overs a side because of a power failure.

The result leads New Zealand to level the three-match series with the decider  match to be played at Port Elizabeth on Wednesday. Martin Guptill missed his side's eight-wicket crush in the 1st match in Durban on Friday because of a stomach ailment, but the opening batsman produced his value to the team on Sunday by slamming six sixes and eight fours.

Guptill  became the second New Zealand Cricketer, after captain Brendon McCullum, to made a hundred in a Twenty20 international.

South Africa scored 165 runs for five after a floodlight failure spoiled a 50 minute delay. South Africa were 128 for two after 16.1 overs when the lights on one of four towers went out. Henry Davids scored 55 runs and captain Faf du Plessis made 63 runs for his team. New Zealand seam bowler Doug Bracewell claimed three wickets in four balls in the last over, all from catches in the deep, to finish his spell with three for 33. Martin Guptill named for the Man of the Match award for his last ball century.