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This is an archive article published on February 21, 2004

Five-run loss, after three 6s

Scott Styris blitzed 45 off 27 balls and then removed both of South Africa8217;s openers to set up a nail-biting New Zealand victory in the...

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Scott Styris blitzed 45 off 27 balls and then removed both of South Africa8217;s openers to set up a nail-biting New Zealand victory in their rain-affected one-day international on Friday.

South Africa looked sure of victory twice in the game only for Styris to thwart them each time as the New Zealanders scraped home by five runs to go 2-1 up in the six-match series. Yet Graeme Smith8217;s side almost stole the match in the last over when, with 27 needed, Shaun Pollock hit three sixes off four balls.

A fourth maximum off the last delivery would have seen them home but Kyle Mills held his nerve to produce a perfect leg-stump yorker.

New Zealand, put in after the match was cut back to 38 overs a side after a two-and-a-half hour delay, looked in trouble after losing three top-order wickets for seven runs to slip to 170 for five late in their innings.

But Styris and wicketkeeper Brendon McCullum came together and put on an undefeated stand of 84 at 10 runs an over to take the final score to 254.

Brief scores

New Zealand 254/5 Papps 67, Fleming 43, Styris 45 n.o vs South Africa 249/7 Smith 43, Gibbs 69, Prince 45 n.o, Styris 2/44.

 

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