When you beat a good side like South Africa you should be excited Stephen Fleming

Stephen Fleming made his sixth one-day century as New Zealand levelled their home series against South Africa with a five-wicket win in Christchurch.

Fleming scored 108 a year and a day after his unbeaten 134 carried his side to a World Cup victory over the same opponents.

Chasing a target of 254, the Kiwis reached 255-5 with 4.5 overs to spare as Craig McMillan hit 71 not out.

Graeme Smith top scored with 80 in South Africa's total of 253-8.

They reduced New Zealand to 19-2 in reply but once again found Fleming at the top of his game.

He responded to a difficult situation by striking two sixes and 10 fours before finally being bowled by Makhaya Ntini with his side only 28 short of their target.

Ntini was the pick of the South African attack and also dismissed Michael Papps and Brendon McCullum for figures of 3-45.

Hamish Marshall was caught off Lance Klusener for 18 and Scott Styris fell to Jacques Kallis for 24, but Fleming found the perfect partner in Craig McMillan, who helped add 102 in 16 overs for the fifth wicket.

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Fleming's downfall in the 42nd over brought Chris Cairns to the middle and he ended the match in style with a six off Andre Nel, hit back over the bowler's head, which took him to 10 not out.

South Africa went into the game with a side showing one change from that which won by five wickets in Auckland as Nicky Boje returned for his first game since breaking an ankle in four places last July.

They made a poor start as Herschelle Gibbs was lbw to the second ball of the game from Kyle Mills.

Daryl Tuffey struck a vital blow by bowling Kallis for seven before Smith, who is suffering from a heavy cold, and Boeta Dippenaar put on 79 for the third wicket.

Dippenaar was dismissed by Daniel Vettori for 36, but Jacques Rudolph twice cleared the ropes in making 42 off 36 balls.

South Africa lost Smith, who was caught at third man, and Mark Boucher (40) in successive overs from Cairns but Shaun Pollock saw the total past 250 with an unbeaten 20 off 13 balls.

The third match of the six-game series takes place in Wellington on Friday.

New Zealand: M H W Papps, S P Fleming (Capt), H J H Marshall S B Styris, C D McMillan, C L Cairns, J D P Oram, B B McCullum (Wkt) D L Vettori, K D Mills, D R Tuffey.

South Africa: G C Smith (Capt), H H Gibbs, J H Kallis H H Dippenaar, J A Rudolph, M V Boucher (Wkt), S M Pollock, N Boje L Klusener, A Nel, M Ntini.