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The trend of low scores and poor pitches continued at the ICC Champions Trophy, as New Zealand crushed South Africa by 87 runs in a Group B match at the Brabourne Stadium here on Monday.

In conditions where batting was an onerous task, Stephen Fleming played an outstanding knock for the second time in a major one-day competition against South Africa. In the World Cup, he had creamed 134 effortless runs; here, his 89 was the difference between the two sides, enabling New Zealand to mount 195.

His opposite number for South Africa, Graeme Smith, was the second-highest scorer with 42.

The one batsman who conquered these tough conditions was Fleming. At the start, when strokeplay was relatively easier, he executed some crisp strokes, flicking wide of mid-on with characteristic flair and cutting and driving with panache on the off side. He played and missed more than once early on, but when wickets fell regularly at the other end, he cut out the risks and ensured that he stayed through most of the innings.

South Africa struggled right from the start of their run-chase. The wreckers, however, were the medium pacers, as Mills and Oram used the conditions to perfection. With six wickets in the bag, Fleming finally unleashed his twin-spin attack to wrap it up. Daniel Vettori, flighting it generously, though managed only one wicket in seven overs as Jeetan Patel ripped through the tail with his flat offbreaks.

South Africa won toss

New Zealand

L Vincent b Pollock 17

*S P Fleming c Pollock b Kallis 89

N J Astle b Hall 14

H J H Marshall b Nel 1

P G Fulton c Boucher b Kallis 2

J D P Oram c Dippenaar b Peterson 7

†B B McCullum c & b Peterson 21

D L Vettori c Boucher b Smith 9

J E C Franklin b Kallis 9

K D Mills not out 4

J S Patel run out (Pollock) 2

Extras (b4, lb4, w11, nb1) 20

Total (all out, 45.4 overs) 195

Fall: 1-27, 2-74, 3-76, 4-86, 5-99, 6-135, 7-156, 8-180, 9-192

Bowling: Pollock 6-1-18-1 (1nb, 1w); Ntini 6-0-35-0; Nel 6-2-15-1 (1w); Hall 4-0-25-1 (1w); Kallis 7-0-28-3 (1w); Peterson 8.4-0-34-2; Smith 8-0-32-1 (3w)

South Africa

*G C Smith c Vettori b Oram 42

H H Dippenaar lbw b Mills 0

H H Gibbs b Mills 0

J H Kallis c & b Mills 8

†M V Boucher c McCullum b Oram 8

J M Kemp not out 26

S M Pollock c Patel b Oram 1

A J Hall c Vincent b Patel 13

R J Peterson c Fleming b Vettori 0

A Nel b Patel 0

M Ntini b Patel 1

Extras (lb5, w1, nb3) 9

Total (all out, 34.1 overs) 108

Fall: 1-1, 2-3, 3-25, 4-50, 5-69, 6-71, 7-99, 8-100, 9-105

Bowling: Mills 6-0-18-3 (1w); Franklin 10-0-33-0 (2nb); Oram 8-1-26-3; Vettori 7-1-15-1 (1nb); Patel 3.1-0-11-3

Result: New Zealand won by 87 runs

Points: New Zealand 2, South Africa 0

Man of the Match: Stephen Fleming

Umpires: Aleem Dar (Pakistan) and M R Benson (England). TV umpire: R E Koertzen (South Africa). Match referee: R S Madugalle (Sri Lanka)

Note: R E Koertzen replaced Asaf Rauf as TV umpire after Asad had to leave for Pakistan due to the demise of his mother.

Source:The News