De Kock, de Villiers star in tense South Africa win

A Quinton de Kock half-century laid the foundation for South Africa's four-wicket win over New Zealand in a tense finish to a rain-shortened first One-Day International in Hamilton on Sunday (February 19).

In a clash that went down to the wire, the departure of de Kock for 69 sparked a middle-order collapse before AB de Villiers got into a rescue mission to take his side home with a ball to spare.

With the fixture reduced to a 34-overs-a-side affair following heavy rain early in the day, New Zealand posted 207 for 7, boosted by an unbroken stand of 51 in 23 balls towards the end between Colin de Grandhomme and Tim Southee.

South Africa went into the final over of the reply requiring 12 to win, and de Villiers ended the game with a four off the fifth ball of Southee's over.

With de Kock, the Man of the Match, in sublime form, and Hashim Amla in fine fettle too, South Africa started its run chase strongly with an 88-run stand.

Kane Williamson used five bowling changes in the first 15 overs but only got the breakthrough he wanted when he put himself on and had Amla caught and bowled for 35.

Faf du Plessis (14) joined de Kock to get the score to 117 when the South African innings suffered a collapse with five wickets falling in the space of 39 runs. Trent Boult had de Kock caught in a sharp piece of fielding by Ross Taylor at short midwicket and Southee removed JP Duminy and Farhaan Behardein with consecutive deliveries. Chris Morris survived the hat-trick ball and made 16 before his dismissal had South Africa at 156 for 6 with 44 balls remaining.

De Villiers, with 37 off 34 balls, and Andile Phehulkwayo (29 in 23) combined to get the team home from there.

Earlier, the de Grandhomme and Southee partnership gave New Zealand a respectable look after it, too, suffered a middle-order collapse. De Grandhomme was unbeaten on 34 off 19 balls while Southee faced 13 balls to be 24 not out.

They were particularly harsh on the most successful of the South African bowlers, Morris, hitting him for 25 in the final over. That caused Morris's figures swell to 4 for 62 off his seven overs, after he had 4 for 24 off five.

Morris had left the New Zealand top order in tatters with only Kane Williamson (59) and Dean Brownlie (31) offering any resistance.

The second of five ODIs takes place in Christchurch on Wednesday.