Proteas need 207 in Eden Park ODI to ensure clean sweep against Kiwis

Auckland (New Zealand), Mar.3 (ANI): South Africa had New Zealand on the mat in Saturday's third one-day match being played at the Eden Park here.

New Zealand were 206 all out in 47 overs.

Skipper Brendon McCullum top scored with 47 with six boundaries for the hosts. James Franklin (36), Colin de Grandhomme (36) were the others to score for the Kiwis, the Sydney Morning Herald report said.

A Cricinfo report said that the Kiwis were simply flummoxed by the high quality seam bowling of the South Africans.

In the first 25 overs of the match, the Black Caps could only manage to score 87 for 3.

It was superb new-ball bowling aided by a damp pitch and cloudy skies that kept New Zealand pinned to the ropes throughout the mandatory power play.

Earlier, South Africa won the toss and opted to bowl to exploit the conditions.

Dale Steyn was nigh unplayable, as the skid in the pitch added another layer of venom to his outswing, while L.Tsotsobe's steady seamers were also augmented by movement not normally seen at Eden Park.

Unerring lines and impeccable length provided few chances for the Kiwis to free their arms.

Fast bowler Marchant de Lange had not played in the first two one dayers, returned figures of four wickets for 46 runs of nine overs.

Steyn gave away 28 runs in his seven overs.

Spinner R J Peterson claimed two wickets for 36 runs of his 10 overs, while Johan Botha also claimed a wicket for 28 runs of his seven overs.

South Africa holds a winning 2-0 lead in the three-match series. (ANI)