South Africa scramble for last-ball win over NZ Emerging Players

Another nail-biting finish saw New Zealand’s Emerging Players go down to South African by three wickets on the last ball of their 50-over match at the Emerging Players 2009 tournament in Brisbane today.

NZEP won the toss and decided to bat on a wicket that had been used in three previous games. South Africa’s spinners made the most of the conditions, bowling their 20 overs for 78 runs and collecting two wickets.

However the NZEP batting line up performed solidly with early partnerships of 20, 71 and 32. Captain Peter Fulton was again in the runs, batting through most of the innings for 90 off 116 balls.

Anaru Kitchen put on a powerful display of aggression during the power play, scoring 40 from 19 balls. Colin de Grandhomme scored 37, with NZEP finishing their 50 overs on 262/8.

New Zealand’s bowling attack had some early success, and at one stage had SAEP at 70/3. However a fifth wicket partnership of 96 between Heino Kuhn and Reeza Hendricks took South Africa within striking distance of the target.

NZEP kept the pressure on with late wickets and left South Africa with nine runs required off the last over, which they secured with a four off the last ball.

Tim Southee and George Worker were the most successful of the NZEP bowlers, taking two wickets each. Kuhn carried his bat through the innings for an unbeaten 139.

Short scorecard:
New Zealand Emerging Players 262/8 in 50 overs (Fulton 90, Kitchen 40, de Grandhomme 37; Theron 2/40, Elgar 2/40)
South Africa Emerging Players 263/7 in 50 overs (Kuhn 139, Hendricks 29, Behardien 26, Elgar 22, Van Zyl 20; Worker 2/42, Southee 2/69)

FULL SCORECARD AVAILABLE AT:
http://www.blackcaps.co.nz/content/scorecard/nzep-vs-saep-29-july-09.aspx

NZC Emerging Players website:
www.blackcaps.co.nz/content/international/emerging-players/default.aspx

Cricket Australia tournament website:
http://www.cricket.com.au/default.aspx?s=emergingplayers09