NZ VS RSA - 3rd ODI, South Africa tour of New Zealand, 2017

So that brings an end to this one-sided encounter. Not many would have expected it to be one with two top teams battling it out in the centre. All thanks to the knock of ABD and the bowlers, who put a collective effort. AB de Villiers went onto to score 9000 ODI runs and is the fastest to do so. The action now shifts to Seddon Park, Hamilton with three days of rest. Until then this is Krishna signing off on behalf of Abhinand Raghavendran and Abhishek Chaudhary. Good night, Ta ta!!

AB de Villiers is the Man of the Match: It was a great team performance. The guys delivered when it mattered. We don't know how we got to 270, but we did it. I'm not a big fan of setting the target before the game. It was difficult to judge the wicket and come up with a score in mind. Our bowlers did well. We had a light discussion with QDK, Amla and Faf at the break. It's one of those days that beating the in field was a challenge with the ball not quite coming onto the bat and we kept it tight there. It was a difficult wicket to bat on. I felt we had a better chance than the Kiwis as it was hard for the batsmen in the second innings, and luckily we had a few wickets in our hands. I think it's pretty normal, I was a bit nervous when I went out to bat and there were a lot of doubts in mind and to get over those obstacles and contributing to the team is something satisfying. I'm enjoying more than before, to understand the game better and to perform for the team is something we all work for.

Kane Williamson: With the ball in hand we did an okay job. We needed to see the wicket a bit early on and they bowled superbly. Initially there was more to extract and we couldn't capitalize with our bowling. QDK and ABD batted well for them. Our best chance was to keep our wickets in hand and chase in the later part of the innings, which didn't happen. It was hard to rotate the strike and South Africa struggled with the same in their innings too. They did well in all departments and they outplayed us. One day cricket can be fickle. We have to bounce back quickly and do our basics well in the next game.

A clinical performance from the South African side. Their bowlers kept it tight right from the start and picked wickets at regular intervals. Never let the Kiwis get away with a partnership. Skipper Kane Williamson tried to steady the ship alongside Ross Taylor, but the Protea bowling line up was too hot to handle. It was the day of partnerships - Bowling Partnerships I mean. It was the partnership of Rabada and Parnell that set the tone and then was followed by Phehlukwayo and Pretorius to dismantle the Kiwi line up. Tahir chipped in with a wicket and got his name on the scorecard. South Africa have given the hosts a lot to think with two games left in the series. Stay tuned for the presentations..

Dwaine Pretorius to Boult, out Caught by de Villiers!! That's it. South Africa have wrapped it up and go 2-1 in the series. Short delivery on the stumps, Boult gets a top edge and skies it towards mid-off. ABD calls for the catch and takes it comfortably to register a win by 159 runs. Boult c de Villiers b Dwaine Pretorius 4(15)

Dwaine Pretorius to Boult, THATS OUT!! Caught!!

Dwaine Pretorius to de Grandhomme, 1 run, punched off the back foot to sweeper cover

Tahir to Boult, no run, Boult covers his stumps and looks to defend. This one held its line and goes past the outside edge through to the keeper

Tahir to de Grandhomme, 1 run, googly on the stumps, Grandhomme works it to the on-side

Tahir to Boult, 1 run, Boult takes it on the full and chips it in front of long-on. Just a single

Tahir to Boult, no run, leg-break from Tahir. Boult plays it inside the line and gets beaten

Tahir to Boult, no run, Boult comes down the track and taps it to short mid-wicket

Tahir to de Grandhomme, 1 run, full delivery on the stumps, Grandhomme milks a single down to long-off

Dwaine Pretorius to Boult, no run, slower yorker at the stumps. Boult pushes it back to Pretorius

Dwaine Pretorius to Boult, no run, Pretorius attacks the stumps. Boult prods forward and defends with a straight bat face down the wicket

Dwaine Pretorius to Boult, no run, Pretorius sees Boult advancing down the track and bowls a short delivery outside off. Boult lets it go as it's over his head

Dwaine Pretorius to Boult, no run, Boult clears his front foot and mistimes the slog to cover

Dwaine Pretorius to Boult, no run, back of a length delivery outside off, Boult walks across his stumps and shoulders arms

Crowd is right behind Boult.

Dwaine Pretorius to Boult, no run, Boult charges down the track and blocks it to cover