Bowlers, Guptill Ton Helps Level Series

Potchefstroom: An unbeaten century from opener Martin Guptill eased New Zealand to an emphatic eight-wicket victory over South Africa in the second One-Day International at Senwes Park on Sunday.

Set a modest 205 for victory, New Zealand cruised to their target with 33 balls to spare on the back of Guptill's 103 not out as they finished on 207 for two.

The victory levels the three match series at 1-1, with the deciding match to be played in Durban on Wednesday.

After winning the toss and electing to bat, South Africa never got momentum in their innings and were bowled out in the final over for 204, not helped by losing their last three wickets to run outs.

New Zealand bowled with accuracy on a slow wicket as the Proteas batsmen reached the boundary rope on just 15 occasions.

Only middle-order batsman Farhaan Behardien found any sort of fluency as he accumulated a neat 70 from 87 balls to give the home side some sort of target to defend.

Rilee Rossouw (39) and AB de Villiers (31) both got starts in the top-order, but could not kick-on.

The innings ended in farce when Aaron Phangiso, Dale Steyn and Imran Tahir were all run out, with Vernon Philander (30 not out) the common denominator at the other end.

Credit must go to the way the New Zealand bowlers stifled the run rate though, with seamer Doug Bracewell the pick as he recorded figures of three for 31 in his 10 overs.

The tourists never looked troubled in their reply as a 126 run opening stand between Guptill and Tom Latham (64) laid the platform for the emphatic win.

Guptill's ninth ODI century took 134 balls and while it lacked the brutality of some of his other international hundreds, was skilful batting on a pitch most other batsmen found difficult.

Debutant George Worker finished on 20 not out as he put on 67 with Guptill for the third wicket.

Brief scores
South Africa - 204 (Behardien 70, Bracewell 3-31, Milne 2-39)
New Zealand - 207/2 (Martin 103*, Latham 64)
Result - New Zealand won by 8 wickets
MOM - Martin Guptil (New Zealand)

Scores	Upcoming	Results
South Africa vs Pakistan - 3rd ODI 4th Test - Australia v India - December 26-30, 23:30 GMT 1st Test - Zimbabwe v Afghanistan - December 26-30, 07:30 GMT 3rd ODI - Zimbabwe v Afghanistan at Harare Afghanistan won by 8 wickets (with 139 balls remaining) 3rd T20I - West Indies v Bangladesh at St Vincent Bangladesh won by 80 runs

AB de Villiers Stars as SA Win Series [+]

AB de Villiers returned to form with a brisk half-century which helped South Africa to complete a 62-run win and a 2-1 series victory over New Zealand on Wednesday.

Bowlers, Guptill Ton Helps Level Series [+]

An unbeaten century from opener Martin Guptill eased New Zealand to an emphatic eight-wicket victory over South Africa in the second One-Day International at Senwes Park on Sunday.

Amla Ton Gives South Africa 20-run win [+]

A century from Hashim Amla laid the foundation for home success on Wednesday as South Africa beat New Zealand by 20 runs to win their opening one-day international at Centurion.

Guptill Fifty Secure Draw T20 Series 1-1 [+]

Martin Guptill hit an aggressive 35-ball 60 as New Zealand made their highest total in a Twenty20 international against South Africa at SuperSport Park on Sunday.

Amla set up South Africa six-wicket win [+]

Hashim Amla guided South Africa to a comfortable six-wicket win in the first Twenty20 international against New Zealand at Kingsmead on Friday.

Debutant Worker Powers New Zealand to T20 Triumph [+]

George Worker compiled a brisk 62 off just 38 balls on his international debut to enable New Zealand to complete their brief limited overs tour of Zimbabwe with an easy 80-run win in their only Twenty20 international on Sunday.

Williamson Leads NZ to Series Triumph [+]

New Zealand captain Kane Williamson scored 90 to lay the foundations for a 38�run victory over Zimbabwe at the Harare Sports Club on Friday which gave the Kiwis the three-match one-day international series 2-1.

Kiwis Strike Back With Ten Wicket Win [+]

Openers Martin Guptill and Tom Latham both struck centuries as New Zealand crushed Zimbabwe by 10 wickets in the second one-day international in Harare on Tuesday to set up a series decider.

Wiese, van Wyk recalled for NZ Series [+]

Morne van Wyk has been recalled to the Proteas limited overs squads in place of Quinton de Kock for both T20 and ODI series against New Zealand.

Ervine Guides Zimbabwe to Superb Win [+]

Craig Ervine's maiden century upstaged Ross Taylor and Kane Williamson's record-breaking exploits as Zimbabwe stunned New Zealand by seven wickets in the first one-day international at Harare Sports Club on Sunday.