De Villiers helps Proteas thrash Kiwis by 159 runs in Wellington ODI

Wellington [New Zealand], Feb. 25 (ANI): Batting heroics from star batsman AB de Villiers and a clinical performance from the bowlers helped South Africa thrash New Zealand by 159 runs in the third ODI of the five-match series here at the Wellington Regional Stadium on Saturday. Chasing a target of 272, the hosts were bundled out for mere 112 runs in just 32.2 overs. Colin de Grandhomme, who came to bat at number eight, was the lone New Zealand batter who could provide some resistance and fight back against the Proteas' bowlers. He remained not out on 34. Besides him, Ross Taylor (18), skipper Kane Williamson (23) and James Neesham (13) could score in double figures. For the visitors, right-arm pacer Dwaine Pretorius was the pick of the bowlers as he scalped three wickets for five runs, while Kagiso Rabada, Wayne Parnell and Andile Phehlukwayo all took two-two wickets each. It was the partnership of Rabada and Parnell to set the tone and then followed by Phehlukwayo and Pretorius to dismantle the Kiwi line up. Earlier, De Villiers (85) along Quinton de Kock (68), propelled his side to 271-8 in their 50 overs. Openers De Kock and Faf du Plessis took them to 114 for 1 in the 23rd over but South Africa lost five for 66 in the next 16. However, De Villiers came to his own and showed his class and guided his side to a good first inning score. In the process, he also become the fastest player to 9000 ODI runs. Parnell, who came to bat at number 8, not only played sensibly but also managed to carve Ferguson over point for six and de Villiers went from 39 off 51 balls to 85 off 80, before picking out deep midwicket with four deliveries remaining, as the final ten overs brought 88 runs. De Villiers was adjudged the Man of the Match. With the win, South Africa have taken a 2-1 lead and it would be interesting to see how the Black Caps bounce back on their home turf. The two sides will next face each other on March 1 at Seddon Park, Hamilton. (ANI)