Lockie Ferguson and Colin de Grandhomme were fast and furious in different departments, but it was the class of Kane Williamson that stood head and shoulders above the rest in the all-important encounter between New Zealand and South Africa on a tricky Birmingham surface here on Wednesday. The 28-year-old scored 106 not out off 138 deliveries to help his team come out on top in a nail-biting affair. With this four-wicket defeat, South Africa are now almost out of the 2019 World Cup. Opting to bowl, a disciplined effort from their bowlers helped New Zealand restrict South Africa to a modest 241-6. After the match was reduced to 49 overs per side because of a soggy outfield, opener Hashim Amla (55) and Rassie van der Dussen (67 not out) crafted half-centuries to lend some respectability to the South Africa total. Ferguson was the pick of the bowlers, returning with figures of 3 for 59 from his 10 overs. He received good support from Trent Boult, de Grandhomme and Mitchell Santner, who bagged a wicket each, while Matt Henry was economical too. It was van der Dussen’s fireworks towards the final moments of the innings which propelled South Africa to a fighting total. His 64-ball knock was laced with two boundaries and three sixes. Meanwhile, Amla took 83 balls for his 55, hitting four boundaries in the process. In response, Chris Morris (3 for 49) bowled his heart out before Williamson and de Grandhomme (47-ball 60) added 91 runs for the sixth wicket. South African bowlers however kept fighting and took the battle to the final over where the genius of Williamson prevailed. The Black Caps captain brought up his 12th ODI hundred and got his team over the line with three deliveries to spare. Earlier, South Africa were off to a poor start as they lost opener Quinton de Kock (5) cheaply in the second over, castled by Boult while attempting an on-drive. Amla and skipper Faf du Plessis (23) then shared a 50-run partnership for the second wicket, as South Africa went past the 50-run mark in the 13th over. However, just when the partnership seemed to be developing, Ferguson came with the breakthrough, dismissing du Plessis with a gem of a yorker to reduce South Africa to 59 for 2. During his innings, Amla became the fourth South African player to reach 8,000 runs in ODIs. He is the second-fastest player (176 innings) from any side to reach the milestone after India’s Virat Kohli (175 innings). Aiden Markram (38) then joined Amla and the two added 52 runs for the third wicket before Santner packed back the latter in the 28th over after a good length delivery turned sharply to dislodge Amla’s off-stump.