Player of the Match
Player of the Match

10.00pm South Africa could not have asked for a more clinical performance to start a tough tour. They've completely outplayed, outclassed, outpaced and outmatched New Zealand in all departments to take the T20 by 78 runs. Their batsmen put up enough, and the bowlers came out right on target. From the outset, NZ were behind the game and the asking rate. Losing wickets doesn't help either. Tahir finished with 5 for 24, but it was Morris who set the tone with a sensational new-ball spell.

Imran Tahir is the Man of the Match: "It's a very special feeling every wickets I take for South Africa, like to celebrate. Stay with my plans, it's a small ground, less margin for spinners."

Kane Williamson: "They played well in all departments. Frustrating from our perspective, we didn't fire a shot. On this ground, you don't know what a good score is. Rotating strike is hard on drop-in surfaces. Lacked in partnerships."

Faf du Plessis: "Anything can happen in a one-off T20. I thought we played really well. It's nice coming back here. The last 6-7 months has been outstanding for us as a team."

14.5
W
Imran Tahir to Southee, OUT, that's it. Tahir wraps up a dominant win for South Africa with a T20 five-for. A googly on middle and leg, the ball goes through Southee's mow across the line and hits the stumps again. Tahir can't be stopped.

TG Southee b Imran Tahir 20 (9m 6b 0x4 3x6) SR: 333.33

14.4
1
Imran Tahir to Boult, 1 run, whipped away to long-on

Last man Boult.

14.3
W
Imran Tahir to Wheeler, OUT, another wicket. Another long sprint of glee. The quick topspinner on leg, goes through Wheeler's defense and cleans up middle and leg stump

BM Wheeler b Imran Tahir 6 (10m 6b 1x4 0x6) SR: 100.00

14.2
0
Imran Tahir to Wheeler, no run, full and wide outside off, slowed up, hammered back to Tahir who does well in his follow-through
14.1
4
Imran Tahir to Wheeler, FOUR, beats Wheeler in flight. The flat quick one on leg, Wheeler gets a thick inside edge which races away to the fine leg fence

Strange as it may seem, NZ not entirely out of it just yet

END OF OVER:
14 | 20 Runs | NZ: 102/8 (84 runs required from 36 balls, RR: 7.28, RRR: 14.00)

  • Tim Southee20 (5b)
  • Ben Wheeler2 (3b)
  • Wayne Parnell3-0-40-0
  • Imran Tahir3-0-19-3
13.6
6
Parnell to Southee, SIX, top-edged for six more. Back of a length outside off, Southee doesn't get on top of his pull but gets what he wanted. Straight over the keeper for six. 20 off the over.
13.5
1
Parnell to Wheeler, 1 run, swatted away into the leg side for another run
13.4
0
Parnell to Wheeler, no run, back of a length outside off, Wheeler misses a cut. Beaten for pace
13.3
1
Parnell to Southee, 1 run, guided away to third man for a run
13.2
6
Parnell to Southee, SIX, six more. Short and wide outside off, Southee gets underneath the length and carves the ball over third man for six.
13.1
6
Parnell to Southee, SIX, six more. On the pads, Southee backs away and cobbles a slog deep into the stands over square leg

END OF OVER:
13 | 14 Runs 1 Wkt | NZ: 82/8 (104 runs required from 42 balls, RR: 6.30, RRR: 14.85)

  • Tim Southee1 (1b)
  • Ben Wheeler1 (1b)
  • Imran Tahir3-0-19-3
  • Andile Phehlukwayo3-0-19-3
12.6
1
Imran Tahir to Southee, 1 run, fired in outside off, driven to cover for a run
12.5
1
Imran Tahir to Wheeler, 1 run, the googly outside off, pushed away to long-on
12.4
W
Imran Tahir to de Grandhomme, OUT, excellent bowling. Sees de Grandhomme coming and fires it wide outside off. He is too far from the ball to control, so he skews a slice and picks out the man at the sweeper cover boundary.

C de Grandhomme c Duminy b Imran Tahir 15 (16m 7b 0x4 2x6) SR: 214.28

12.3
6
Imran Tahir to de Grandhomme, SIX, that is massive. He gets down to the pitch and sends the slog way over long-on. Hits the roof and returns into the field of play
12.2
6
Imran Tahir to de Grandhomme, SIX, slogged away for six. A googly on middle, de Grandhomme picks the googly, gets down and sends the ball over square leg

Tahir gets 50

31

Number of matches Imran Tahir has taken to get 50 T20I wickets; he is the second quickest bowler to the landmark after Ajantha Mendis who took 26 T20Is.