Klusener sends Kiwis for a six

DURBAN, NOVEMBER 2: Lance Klusener hit two successive sixes as South Africa completed their fourth successive win over New Zealand in a ra...

DURBAN, NOVEMBER 2: Lance Klusener hit two successive sixes as South Africa completed their fourth successive win over New Zealand in a rain-hit fifth limited overs international at Kingsmead here.

Klusener made an unbeaten 41 off 18 balls as South Africa won by six wickets with nine balls to spare after being set a stiff target under the Duckworth-Lewis scoring method on Wednesday.

Jacques Kallis played the anchor role for South Africa, making 50 not out off 80 balls.

New Zealand had struggled to 114-5 off 32.4 overs in an innings interrupted twice by rain but South Africa had to make 153 off 32 overs, with the target being revised upwards to make allowance for the curtailment of the New Zealand innings.

The task looked difficult on a pitch which helped seam bowlers until Klusener joined Kallis and cut loose. Klusener hit three fours in an over from Geoff Allott, then finished the match with two successive sixes off Shayne O8217;Connor.

Kallis won the Man of the Match award. Apart from his crucial innings he held two slip catches and took his 100th limited overs international wicket in his 113th match.

New Zealand were sent in to bat in seam-friendlyconditions after rain delayed the start by half an hour.

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South Africa8217;s fast bowlers prospered in helpful conditions after skipper Shaun Pollock won the toss, although New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming 21 and fellow left-hander Roger Twose 38 put on 63 for the third wicket.

Chris Cairns batted brightly in making an unbeaten 25 off30 balls.There was an interruption of more than an hour when New Zealand were on 81 for five after 27.3 overs.

appe to klue Scoreboard
New Zealand: C Nevin c Kallis b Pollock 0, N Astle c Kallis b Donald 3, S Fleming lbw b Ntini 21, R Twose B Kallis 38, C Cairns not out 25, C McMillan c Boucher b Ntini 3, C Harris not out 9; Extras lb14, w1 15.

Total for five wicket in 32.4 overs 114

Fall of wickets: 1-2, 2-8, 3-71, 4-73, 5-81

Bowling: Pollock 6-2-22-1, Donald 6-3-11-1, Ntini8-2-21-2, Kallis 6-1-14-1, Klusener 4-0-26-0, Hall 2.4-1-6-0.

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South Africa: D Cullinan lbw b Allott 7, G Kirsten c Parore b Cairns 3, J Kallis not out 50, N Boje c Harris b Astle 29, J Rhodes b Astle 19, L Klusener not out 41; Extras lb-1, nb-1, w-7 9. Total for four wickets in 30.3 overs 158

Fall of wickets: 1-11, 2-11, 3-76, 4-100

Bowling: Allott 6-1-38-1, Cairns 7-0-29-1, O8217;Connor 5.3-1-22-0, Styris 6-0-27-0, Astle 5-0-32-2, McMillan 1-0-9-0.