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New Zealand v South Africa – 3rd ODI – Match recap – Proteas sweep ODI series, 3-0

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New Zealand v South Africa – 3rd ODI – Match recap – Proteas sweep ODI series, 3-0
South Africa cruised to an easy 3-0 series win away from home against New Zealand, as they defeated the host team by 5 wickets in the last ODI played at Eden Park, Auckland, today on March 3.
After emerging victorious in the previous two ODIs, luck continued to favour the visitors as they won the toss and opted to field. While the Proteas had already managed to secure the series, today’s match was a chance for the host to go out fighting, but
the disoriented batting lineup again failed to establish stability.
South Africa’s top performer Morne Morkel, who took a 5-wicket haul in the second ODI, was rested, but his replacement Marchant de Lange more than made up for his absence, making a spectacular ODI debut, with 4 for 46.
The Kiwi openers were torturously slow when it came to making runs – finding difficulty in dealing with the Proteas’quicks.  The hard-hitting Martin Guptill was the first one to perish, after he was caught out spectacularly by Faf de Plessis off Lonwabo
Tsotsobe at a mere 7 off 13 balls.
Rob Nicol’s innings was even slower as he consumed 40 balls for his 12. His stay at the crease was cut short when he was caught behind the stumps off Johan Botha, who joined Robin Peterson to contribute an added spin element in the visitors’ bowling lineup.
Skipper Brendon McCullum steadied the innings somewhat, with a respectable 47, but became de Lange’s first victim in the 22nd over. Kane Williamson was also sluggish in constructing his innings, taking 43 balls for his 22. His departure saw James
Franklin and debutant Colin de Grandhomme adding 55 for the fifth wicket as both contributed 36 runs each to the final score. However, their dismissals in quick succession again led to a late order collapse.
No sooner had de Lange dismissed Franklin in the 42nd over, that he struck again two deliveries later, taking out Andrew Ellis for 2.  He claimed his fourth victim an over later, removing Nathan McCullum for 10.
The remaining two batsmen, Kyle Mills (5) and Michael Bates (13) were polished off by Peterson in the death overs, as the hosts managed to set their opponents a chase for 207.
The South African innings was once again, anchored by veteran batsman Hashim Amla, and despite the absence of injured batsmen, Jacques Kallis, Justin Ontong, and Graeme Smith, the visitors made light work of the target.
Amla had made a powerful impact in the last match with a solid 92, and once again rose to the occasion at Eden Park, contributing a substantial 76 to the total, and establishing an 80-run opening stand with tail ender Wayne Parnell (27), who was surprisingly
asked to open due to the mounting injury list.
Albie Morkel followed Amla, with a respectable 41, after which he was caught out off Bates. Du Plessis and Jean-Paul Duminy brought the total up to 188 in the 40th over, but both were sent back to the pavilion by Nicol.
However, the host team’s bowlers were unable to restrict the Proteas, as wicketkeeper captain AB de Villiers (9) and Botha (5) comfortably brought their team to 208 at the expense of 5 wickets, with 40 balls remaining.
The New Zealand bowling attack, with spinner Tarun Nethula being rested, was lackluster, with Nicol being the prominent wicket-taker, with two scalps.
Predictably, South Africa’s Marchant de Lange was declared Player of the Match, for his outstanding ODI debut.
With the conclusion of the limited-overs leg, the remaining fixtures of the tour include a series of 3 Test matches, the first of which is scheduled for March 7 in Dunedin.