Hosts New Zealand made a comeback in the ODI series against South Africa after beating them by six runs in the 2^nd ODI at Christchurch. South Africa decided to bowl first after winning the toss. New Zealand scored 289/4 at the end of 50 overs after batting first.

In reply, South Africa fell just 6 runs away from New Zealand’s total as the visitors made 283/9 (50 overs).

With this victory, New Zealand levelled the 5-match ODI series by 1-1.

Brief Scores: New Zealand – 289/4 in 50 overs (Ross Taylor 102*, James Neesham 71*, Dwaine Pretorius 2/40)

South Africa – 283/9 in 50 overs (Quinton de Kock 57, Dwaine Pretorius 50, Trent Boult 3/63)

Result – New Zealand won by 6 runs

Here are some of the statistical highlights of the match:

Playing his 166^th ODI innings, New Zealand batsman Ross Taylor completed his 6,000 ODI career runs in this ODI. He became the 4^th and fastest New Zealand batsman to achieve this feat. The other 3 New Zealand batsmen are Nathan Astle (182 ODI innings), Stephen Fleming (206 ODI innings) and Brendon McCullum (226 ODI innings).

New Zealand batsmen Kane Williamson and Ross Taylor put on an important 104-run partnership for the 3^rd wicket. It was the 10^th 100+ ODI partnership between them which is joint most no. for 3^rd wicket in ODI history. Mahela Jayawardene and Kumar Sangakkara (Asia XI/ Sri Lanka) had also the same no.of 100+ partnership in ODI.

New Zealand batsman Ross Taylor scored a brilliant century in this ODI as he remained unbeaten on 102. Here are some important stats of this innings:

i) It is the first ever 1^st innings ODI century by a New Zealand batsman on their home soil against South Africa.

ii) Also, it is the 3^rd ODI century by a New Zealand batsman on their home soil against South Africa. The first two are 100* by Nathan Astle (at Auckland on 20^th February 1999) and 108 by Stephen Fleming (at Christchurch on 17^th February 2004).

iii) After this ODI century, Taylor has now ODI centuries against all full-member teams. He became the 6^th batsman to score ODI centuries against all full-member teams. The other five batsmen who had achieved this feat before he was Ricky Ponting (Australia), Herschelle Gibbs (South Africa), Sachin Tendulkar (India), Hashim Amla (South Africa) and Virat Kohli (India)

iv) It was Ross Taylor’s 6^th ODI century on the home soil at no.4 to lower batting order. He became the second most no. of ODI century scorer on the home soil at no.4 to lower batting order. Indian batsman Yuvraj Singh is the record holder in this list with 7 ODI centuries. During this century, Taylor surpassed AB de Villiers (South Africa), MS Dhoni (India) and Mohammad Yousuf (Pakistan) who have 5 ODI centuries each on their home soil at no. 4 to lower batting order.

However, Taylor already has the most no. of ODI centuries on the home soil as a no.4 batsman (6 ODI centuries).

v) It was Taylor’s 17^thODI century in overall which is the most no.of ODI centuries as a New Zealand batsman. The previous record holder was Nathan Astle (16 ODI centuries).

New Zealand made 289/4 in 50 overs. It is the 3^rd highest ODI total for New Zealand against South Africa. The top two in this list are 299/6 at Auckland (on 24^th march 2015) and 298/9 at Brisbane (on 9^th January 1998).

Chasing down the total, South Africa managed to score 283/9 in 50 overs. It is South Africa’s second highest ODI total on the New Zealand soil. South Africa’s highest ODI total on the New Zealand soil is 290/5 (50 overs) at Auckland on 27^th March 1999.

After 12 consecutive ODI victories, South Africa finally suffered an ODI defeat. South Africa has joint second highest consecutive ODI victories (Also South Africa and Pakistan once had achieved 12 consecutive ODI victories), while Australia is the record holder with 21 consecutive ODI victories.