Proteas Look Series Whitewash Against Kiwis

Auckland: The Castle Lager Proteas will be targeting nothing less than a series whitewash, as they head into the final match of the National Bank One-Day International (ODI) Series against New Zealand in Auckland on Saturday.

AB de Villiers is  assured of celebrating his second ODI series victory as captain regardless of the outcome, but will not be backing off as the Proteas look to maintain the standards that have left the home team unsettled.

“It’s still an important game for us, said de Villiers. “We did the same against Sri Lanka, we were 3-nil up and we ended on a bit of a disappointing note and I wouldn’t like to have it end in the same way, it’s not every day that you get the opportunity to whitewash a team away from home. New Zealand is a good cricket team, and they play good cricket in their home conditions and it would be great to win 3-nil.”

South Africa have looked a well-oiled outfit at the best of times during the series, the seamers have hit their straps with pace and intent, the batsmen have played classy and smart cricket with the fielding effort buzzing with intensity and agility. All three disciplines have gelled to produce a formidable display of cricket and the skipper is aware of the importance of the match within the context of the rest of the tour. 

The Proteas return to Eden Park, the venue of their close three-run win in the series-deciding T20 International which featured some of the young talents in the squad, who were impressively up for the pressure challenge. With a three-match Test series looming and a bumper International calendar, de Villiers and coach Gary Kirsten, may look to fiddle with the starting XI which could feature the exciting prospects.

“We probably will make a few changes,” said de Villiers when asked about changes to the team. “ Some of the fast bowlers bowled quite a few overs in the last few matches, we’ll have a look at that and maybe we will give some of the guys a chance that sat on the sides for a few weeks. We haven’t made any clear decisions but there will be a few changes.

On other-hand, in New Zealand, Ryder dropped, 19-year-old Tom Latham is likely to get an opportunity. Latham showed glimpses of class in the three ODIs he played against Zimbabwe in February but will be faced with tougher opposition.

Nethula and Nathan McCullum have been the best bowlers in the series but New Zealand have been reluctant to play two spinners, perhaps due to the small grounds. The poor form of the medium-pacers, though, may mean a change in tactics.

Teams from:

New Zealand: Brendon McCullum (capt & wk), Michael Bates, Doug Bracewell, Colin de Grandhomme, Andrew Ellis, James Franklin, Martin Guptill, Ronnie Hira, Nathan McCullum, Kyle Mills, Rob Nicol, Jacob Oram, Tim Southee, Kane Williamson, Jesse Ryder, Tom Latham, Andy McKay, Tarun Nethula

South Africa: AB de Villiers (capt & wk), Hashim Amla, Johan Botha, Marchant de Lange, Jean-Paul Duminy, Colin Ingram, Richard Levi, Albie Morkel, Morne Morkel, Justin Ontong, Wayne Parnell, Robin Peterson, Juan Theron, Lonwabo Tsotsobe, Faf du Plessis, Jacques Kallis, Graeme Smith, Dale Steyn

Pitch and conditions
Swing with the new ball being the only encouragement for the bowlers. One thing that could help the swing bowlers is that the forecast for Saturday says it will be windy. There is also a slight chance of rain.

Stats and trivia

• Five of the last seven matches in Auckland have been won by the team batting second
• Martin Guptill has an average of 90.33 at Eden Park with his maiden ODI hundred coming there
• AB de Villiers is 11 runs short of 5000 ODI runs, a milestone that only six other South Africans have reached

Match facts
Saturday March 3, 2012 (day/night)
Start time 1400 local (0100 GMT)