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CricBattle Daily Fantasy Cricket League Tips

New Zealand v South Africa on February 25

·         New Zealand, spearheaded by the centurion Ross Taylor and the left-arm spinner Mitchell Santner, edged South Africa by six runs to end the Standard Bank Proteas’ quest for a record 13th successive one-day international victory at the Hagley Oval in Christchurch on Wednesday. They have squared the one-day international series after their loss in Hamilton on Friday. In a pulsating match at the Hagley Oval that went right down to the wire thanks to the late onslaught by a defiant Dwaine Pretorius and Andile Phehlukwayo who almost pulled the game out of the fire, South Africa finished on 283 for nine. They finished just seven runs away from glory after New Zealand batted first and hammered 289 for four.

·         Best economical pick – When he was bowled by Trent Boult in the penultimate over, it effectively terminated South Africa’s winning chances. Phehlukwayo could only score eight runs in the final overs after declining singles off the first four balls of the 50th over. Tim Southee bowled expert Yorkers in that over. Boult and Southee were able to use the Yorkers expertly in crucial moments, while Santner controlled the middle of the innings with astute slow bowling and kept the run-rate in check.

·         Top captains & vice captains – Ross Taylor slammed an unbeaten 102 off 108 balls, his 17th one-day international century for New Zealand. He featured in a record partnership of 123 with Jimmy Neesham (71 off 57 balls) for the fifth wicket against South Africa. The 32-year-old, who had shared the record of 16 with Nathan Astle, has been in a rich vein of form since returning from eye surgery in early January. Earlier, Kane Williamson struck 69 off 75 balls with six fours and featured in a 104-run stand with Taylor. These two top-order batsmen tamed South Africa’s bowling ace, Imran Tahir, and made the attack look ordinary. South Africa finished with 283 for nine. A middle-order meltdown did not do the visitors any favors.

·         Smart pick – Quinton de Kock struck his fourth successive half-century, slamming 57 off 65 balls before he had a rush of blood off Boult and was caught by Neesham on the mid-wicket boundary.

·         Cautions Pick – South Africa would also bemoan the ability of their batsmen to convert useful scores into great ones, as none of De Kock (57), JP Duminy (34), De Villiers (45) or Miller (28) proceeded to three figures. While Faf Duplessis scored just 11 runs.

·        My XI – Ross Taylor (Captain), Kane Williamson (Vice-Captain), Quinton de Kock, Trent Boult, Neil Broom, Kagiso Rabada, Chris Morris, Mitchell Santner, James Neesham, Dwaine Pretorius, Imran Tahir