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VB Series 2nd final, Sydney: South Africa 173-4 (38.1 overs) beat New Zealand 175 all out (41.1 overs) by six wickets (D/L method)

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Jonty Rhodes made an unbeaten 61 as South Africa blanked New Zealand in the VB Series finals with a six-wicket victory in Sydney.

Allan Donald and Jacques Kallis took three wickets each to bowl the Kiwis out for 175 in a rain-affected match.

And Rhodes led the side home with eight overs to spare, his innings occupying just 68 deliveries.

Mark Boucher belted 16 not out from six deliveries after opener Herschelle Gibbs had laid the platform for victory with 46 off 51 deliveries.

A thunderstorm forced a 90-minute interruption mid-way through their innings, reducing the game to 46 overs a side.

But seven Kiwi batsmen were dismissed without reaching double figures as they failed to use up 4.5 overs of their reduced entitlement.

Successive sixes

Lou Vincent hooks a short ball
Vincent focused on fours and sixes
Lou Vincent made an enterprising 43 off just 42 balls, including sixes off Shaun Pollock and Makhaya Ntini, and shared a third wicket stand of 51 with skipper Stepehn Fleming.

But both went with the score on 68 and were soon followed back to the pavilion by Craig McMillan, who fell to Kallis for nought.

Downpour

Rain at the SCG
The rain left puddles on the outfield

The heavens opened after 17 overs and there were fears the game would have to be abandoned but the ground, which had a A$2.5m new drainage system installed 18 months ago, quickly dried up once the rain passed.

Cairns and Chris Harris were together when play resumed and rebuilt the innings by adding 75 in 19 overs.

But Harris' downfall, lbw to Lance Klusener for 31, led to another mini-collapse with Adam Parore out next ball and Daniel Vettori and James Franklin both trapped in front by Donald.

Cairns hit a six and four fours in reaching 57 off 73 balls but went for one big shot too many as he tried to lift Kallis into the stands at long-on and only succeeded in finding Nicky Boje positioned perfectly just inside the ropes.

South Africa: Shaun Pollock (Capt), Gary Kirsten, Herschelle Gibbs, Jacques Kallis, Boeta Dippenaar, Jonty Rhodes, Lance Klusener, Mark Boucher, Nicky Boje, Makhaya Ntini, Allan Donald.

New Zealand: Stephen Fleming (capt), Lou Vincent, Nathan Astle, Craig McMillan, Chris Cairns, Chris Harris, Adam Parore, Andre Adams, Daniel Vettori, James Franklin, Shane Bond.


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