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| | GEO Sports | | Proteas beat Kiwis by one run | Updated at: 0213 PST, Wednesday, June 10, 2009
 LONDON: South Africa defeated New Zealand by just one run on the final ball in an exciting finish in their final Group D match of the ICC World Twenty20 here at Lord’s on Tuesday.
Set an easy winning target of 129 runs, South Africa succeeded in restricting New Zealand to 127-5 in the allotted 20 overs.
Brendon McCullum was looking dangerous, hitting 57 from 53 balls with six fours and he was in a position to take his team to victory but after he departed at 93 in 17 overs, Ross Taylor (22) and Jacob Oram (24) batted brilliantly but could not achieve the target by just two runs.
For South Africa, Rvd Merwe claimed two wickets for only 14 runs from his four overs while Dale Steyn and Jacques Kallis took one wicket each.
Earlier, New Zealand bowlers restricted South African batsmen to 128 runs for seven wickets in the allotted 20 overs.
After New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum won the toss and elected to field, South Africa batted cautiously as their openers captain Graeme Smith and Jacques Kallis made 49 from 43 balls.
After Kallis departed, run out for 24, South Africa came under pressure and began losing wickets at regular intervals.
Smith top scored with 33 and later Jean-Paul Duminy scored 29 with two sixes.
For New Zealand, Ian Butler claimed two wickets for 13 runs while Scott Styris, Nathan McCullum and Kyle Mills took one wicket each.
Both sides were already through to the second round Super Eights after beating minnows Scotland.
New Zealand were again without regular captain Daniel Vettori, ruled out for the second match in a row with a shoulder injury.
They gave the three remaining members of their squad who had not played against Scotland - Brendon Diamanti, Kyle Mills and Neil Broom - their first match of this tournament.
South Africa were unchanged from the side that thrashed Scotland by 130 runs. |  |
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