Star cricketer Kane Williamson hit a brilliant century to take New Zealand into the Tri-Nation series final with a thumping six-wicket win on Monday, overshadowing South African opener Matthew Breetzke’s record score on debut.
Breetzke scored 150 — the highest score by any batter in his first One-Day International (ODI) — to lift South Africa to 304-6 but Williamson’s unbeaten 133 proved match winning at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore.
The Tri-Nation series is a warm-up event before the eight-nation Champions Trophy starting Feb.19 in Pakistan and the UAE.
Pakistan, the third team in the Tri-Nation series, will play South Africa on Wednesday in Karachi to decide who meets New Zealand in the final at the same venue on Friday.
Williamson hit his first ODI century in nearly five years on Monday and was ably supported by opener Devon Conway who missed his century by just three runs.
Williamson and Devon Conway setup the run-chase with a solid second-wicket partnership of 187 runs against a weakened South African pace bowling attack.
Fast bowlers Marco Jansen and Kagiso Rabada are among seven players scheduled to join the South Africa team for Champions Trophy over the weekend after the Tri-Nation series final on Friday.
Williamson used his feet well against inexperienced bowlers and even experienced wrist-spinner Tabraiz Shamsi also couldn’t separate the pair on a flat wicket.
Williamson completed his second fastest century in ODIs off 72 balls with a single, but Conway missed out on his hundred when he fell for 97 while attempting the landmark with a square cut.
Conway made it to the playing XI after Rachin Ravindra got a blow on his forehand in the field during New Zealand’s thumping 78-run win in the first match at the newly renovated Gaddafi Stadium on Saturday.
The left-hander fully capitalised on a missed stumping chance when he was on 36 and hit nine fours and a six before he was brilliantly caught at point by Senuran Muthusamy – one of the four debutants for South Africa.
New Zealand middle-order stuttered briefly when left-arm spinner Muthusamy got the wickets of Daryl Mitchell (10) and Tom Latham of successive balls with the latter falling for his second successive duck in the tournament.
New Zealand brought in Conway for Rachin Ravindra who got injured in team’s 78-run win over Pakistan in Lahore on Saturday.
Glenn Phillips (28 not out), whose maiden ODI century had romped New Zealand to a big win on Saturday against Pakistan, and Williamson then shared an unbroken 57-run stand to seal the match.
Williamson raised the victory with eight balls to spare with his 13th boundary when he smashed Muthusamy through mid-off.
Debutant opening batter Breetzke, who isn’t part of South African squad for this month’s Champions Trophy, smashed 150 off 148 balls and broke West Indies batter Desmond Haynes’ record of 148 against Australia in 1978. South Africa rode on Breetzke’s blitz to score 304-6.
Brief Scores:
South Africa 304-6 in 50 overs (M. Breetzke 150, W. Mulder 64; M. Henry 2-59, W. O’Rourke 2-72)
New Zealand 308-4 in 48.4 overs (K. Williamson 133 not out; D. Conway 97)
Result: New Zealand won by six wickets
Toss: New Zealand
Next match: Pakistan vs South Africa, February 12, Karachi
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