Daily Times

POTCHEFSTROOM: Martin Guptill’s unbeaten century led New Zealand to an easy eight-wicket win over South Africa on Sunday to level their one-day international series 1-1. Guptill was 103 not out as New Zealand cruised to 207 for 2 in 44.3 overs after bowling South Africa out for 204 at Senwes Park in Potchefstroom. Doug Bracewell earlier took ODI career-best figures of 3 for 31 for New Zealand to help restrict the South Africans. He was backed up by fellow seamer Adam Milne, who collected 2 for 39. Guptill then clobbered nine fours and three sixes for a ninth ODI hundred, sharing an opening stand of 126 with Tom Latham, who made 64.

Despite the loss of captain Kane Williamson soon after Latham went, George Worker, on his ODI debut, made 20 not out to help see New Zealand home alongside Guptill. The Black Caps’ big win sends the series to a deciding game in Durban next week and continues the seesaw nature of their limited-overs tour. The teams drew the Twenty20 series 1-1, with South Africa taking the first game and New Zealand coming back to win the second. On his recall after missing out on the first one-dayer, Bracewell removed Rilee Rossouw, big-hitting David Miller and top-scorer Farhaan Behardien for his three wickets. Behardien made 70 for South Africa, with tailender Vernon Philander providing some support with his 30 not out. Already struggling at 188 for 7 when Behardien went, South Africa lost its last three batsmen to run outs, with Dale Steyn going in bizarre fashion as he got his bat stuck in the pitch and dropped it as he reached out to make his ground. While the South African batsmen struggled on the slow pitch, Guptill made it look easy to bat through the innings.