South Africa edge New Zealand

Date released: 9 June 2009

South Africa beat New Zealand by just one run in a thrilling match at Lord's. Re-live the match with our over-by-over coverage.

Live coverage

New Zealand: 127-4
South Africa: 128-7

Batsmen (runs): Jacob Oram (16) & Scott Styris (7)
Bowlers: Pavilion End: Johan Botha
Nursery End: Roelof van der Merwe

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8:52pm Wow - what a tense finish in a "dead-rubber" match, that was good value in the end. South Africa win the group but New Zealand go through to the Super-8s with them.

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8:46pm 20th over: Last over - NZ need 15 runs to win. We'll go ball by ball for Wayne Parnell's over.

1st ball: Clipped away for a single.
2nd ball: Oram off his toes - they run two. 11 needed.
3rd ball: Oram goes for a big hoik but mishits - just two. 10 needed.
4th ball: OUT! But no... dropped! Kallis had it in his hands but let it go! They run two. 8 needed from two balls.
5th ball: Four! A streaky inside edge! Four runs to win!
6th ball: They run two... but it's not enough. A half-misfield and they have to keep running... Oram's run out.

South Africa win by one run

8:40pm 19th over: 27 needed from these two overs - that's a lot to ask. Dale Steyn coming on to bowl this over won't help New Zealand's cause - he's one of the world's best bowlers.

Typical - commentators curse. Steyn's dishes up a wide to add one to score. That one passed Oram (who's a tall man) at waist height, without bouncing - about two yards wide of the stumps.

Another wide - and Graeme Smith trots in for a "heart-to-heart" with Steyn. For "heart-to-heart" read "stiff telling off" or words to that effect.

Crazy running puts the pressure on Steyn for a run-out now - but he fumbles it. Not a great over for Steyn.

Oram belts the next ball for four - they're certainly going to give this a go!

8:36pm 18th over: With three overs left New Zealand need 11.6 runs per over. Wayne Parnell is brought back to bowl.

Two for Styris brings up 100 for New Zealand from 109 balls.

8:30pm 17th over: The required run-rate is edging up around 10 an over now. NZ need 40 more to win from just 24 balls.

Oh, that's ugly. Oram tries to reverse sweep but the big fella cannot get down that quickly and just pads it away for one.

McCullum's gone! Van der Merwe's got him! Boucher stumped him as he walked down the wicket.

South Africa 93-4 - B. McCullum st. Boucher b. Van der Merwe - 57

Oram gets things going again - a great drive for four runs. Surely it's too late for the Black Caps now though?

8:26pm 16th over: Johan Botha replaces Steyn at the Pavilion End. No doubt SA captain Graeme Smith is keeping his last over of Steyn for the closing overs.

McCullum finds the boundary rope again, clipping Botha over the fielders on the circle and away for four.

Botha drops a sharp caught and bowled chance as Oram clobbers the last ball of the over back at him.

8:21pm 15th over: McCullum's got his fifty - from 46 balls. Well played - but with his hitting-power, that's a slow fifty indeed. I'd be pretty certain he's scored faster in Test Match cricket!

Taylor's agonies are over - Van der Merwe's bowled him.

New Zealand 82-3 - Taylor b. Van der Merwe - 22

The only Kiwi to rival Kallis for size of stature comes in - Jacob Oram.

8:17pm 14th over: Quick bowler Dale Steyn is brought back at the Pavilion End - he'll bowl at the limping Taylor first.

A single gets him off the strike and also brings up the 50-partnership between Taylor and McCullum.

8:13pm 13th over: 58 runs needed from 48 balls now for NZ to win. Another mid-pitch chat for New Zealand at the end of the over. Should Taylor really be out there at all if he's hurt?

8:07pm 12th over: Yup - there's a runner on for Taylor who hobbles out to mid-wicket as Martin Guptil comes in as the runner.

Not great news for these two teams, both already carrying their share of injuries, New Zealand especially (without crocked captain, Daniel Vettori). Mills looked to have hurt his back earlier and Taylor looks to have done some serious damage to his left hamstring.

No need to run for that one though - a great drive for four from McCullum.

8:02pm 11th over: It was around this half-way point in their innings that South Africa started their "collapse" - losing 6 wickets for just another 67 runs. Will the Kiwis go the same way?

The still un-nicknamed Roelof van der Merwe comes on to bowl.

The batsman opt to run a risky two... did Taylor make it? TV umpire again...

What is certain is that Taylor's hurt himself in that desperate sprint - he limped on past his crease there with what looked like a hamstring strain.

TV umpire says "not out" but will Taylor need a runner?

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7:58pm 10th over: Albie Morkel comes on to bowl at the Pavilion End. New Zealand's required run-rate creeps up to 7-an-over.

7:55pm 9th over: Taylor keeps the crowd (and the Reliance Mobile dancers) awake with another four to bring up New Zealand's 50.

7:51pm 8th over: There's the first cricket-related cheer for what seems like eons. Taylor's back-foot drive goes for four runs. Shot.

7:47pm 7th over: Could Johan Botha be the man to provide that lift? He's brought into the South Africa attack.

A flag-waving Pakistan fan on the big-screen gets the biggest cheer for a while. Credit to South Africa they're throttling New Zealand's run-scoring.

7:43pm 6th over: The Black Caps' run-rate has been dragged back to around 6-an-over now. They need nearly 7-an-over to win.

Kallis is called for a wide - brave man the umpire there, who gets a disbelieving stare for his trouble.

The crowd try and start another Mexican wave but even their fellow fans aren't in the mood at the moment. This game needs a lift.

7:38pm 5th over: To be honest, I'm not sure Jacques Kallis would have to do much to intimidate most people - he's an absolute giant of a man. Pounding in and bowling at 85mph+ I'd be a little more than intimidated - I'd be terrified!

Parnell is back sooner than expected, perhaps he'll have a dash at the new batsman too. I'm just admiring Roelof van der Merwe's shirt - his surname barely fits on the back! It runs to two lines as it is!

Surely you can help us come up with a catchy nickname for the Proteas player? Send us your emails.

7:32pm 4th over: Jacques Kallis is the new bowler at the Pavilion End as SA save their leading strike bowlers for the closing over. Each bowler allowed just 4 overs each in Twenty20 cricket.

McCullum welcomes Kallis to the game with a cracking four off the first ball of the over. Not a great start.

That's a lot better though! Kallis has Broom in a tangle and takes a caught and bowled! Well played!

New Zealand 26-2 - Broom c&b Kallis - 1

Former MCC Young Cricketer, Ross Taylor the new man in. Kallis is trying to intimidate the new batsman - he's called for his one permitted bouncer of the over.

• Former YCs at ICC World T20

7:27pm 3rd over: Steyn tips things back SA's way - Guptil getting into that stroke far too early and popping a catch up to Van der Merwe

New Zealand 19-1 - Guptil c. Van der Merwe b. Steyn - 6

Steyn's all smiles, as he forces Broom to duck under a short-pitched one.

7:23pm 2nd over: Wayne Parnell is the Proteas' other opening bowler. Guptil doesn't even wait to size him up, he just clouts him for four from the first ball of the over.

Four more for McCullum, despite the brave attemps of the chasing fielder make this an expensive first over for Parnell.

Make that a very expensive over for Parnell as McCullum helps himself to four more, one bounce to the Grand Stand side this time.

7:20pm 1st over: McCullum doesn't take long to measure-up Steyn and flash him away for four runs.

7:18pm Things turn around quickly in T20 and the players are back on the field for NZ's innings. Dale Steyn is lining up to bowl the first over.

7:05pm 20th over: As expected we're back to the opening bowlers for the closing overs. Jacob Oram at the Pavilion End - last over of the innings.

Last ball of the over and the innings is a dot - appropriate I think. Morkel feints a frustrated kick at his stumps but that's the end of the innings.

South Africa close on 128-7

6:59pm 19th over: Kyle Mills is back again, at the Nursery End this time, to bowl the penultimate over.

That was full from Mills and Duminy laps that up - a lovely "crack" from the bat and the ball flies into the stand.

If that was Mills' plan it worked. Duminy has a rush of blood going for another big hit and Broome takes the catch.

South Africa 121-6 - Duminy c. Broom b. Mills - 29

6:53pm 18th over: Can the Butler do it (sorry again) - Ian Butler returns to bowl for New Zealand.

Butler does it - another wicket for him, Boucher clipping a catch to Brendon McCullum.

South Africa 107-6 - Boucher - c. B. McCullum b. Butler - 6

More great fielding by the Black Caps left Duminy scrambling for his ground. The throw missed but the back-up fielder (Diamanti) was in a foot-race with the batsman. TV umpire time again...

Not out say the big screen here at Lord's, Duminy's safe.

6:49pm 17th over: A double bowling change as Jacob Oram comes on to bowl at the Nursery End.

More diving around the field for Mills who misses a half-chance after an edge from Boucher and then, oddly, "feels" his injury again. Playing the sympathy card as Oram glares at him...

There's only the second six of the innings - Duminy battering that into the lower Edrich Stand. 100 up for South Africa from 102 deliveries - that's pedestrian by T20 standards.

6:45pm 16th over: Scott Styris returns as New Zealand look to remove the last of South Africa's middle-order.

Great placement from Duminy, he knew the gap was there at long-leg and guided it by for four runs. Another Mexican wave winds it way around the Ground, going clockwise this time - a change of direction!

6:40pm 15th over: Albie Morkel catches my eye, a flurry of arm-waving and jumping on the spot as he warms-up, pads on.

He may have a while to wait at this rate - De Villiers finds the gap again, just beating the diving fielder for four more.

Then again... De Villiers is trudging off, run-out. He doesn't look happy but that was a mess from the Proteas. Great fielding from the Black Caps though.

South Africa 85-5 - De Villiers run out (Guptil) - 15

6:36pm 14th over: Kyle Mills must be over his earlier injury - he's back and bowling from the Pavilion End.

De Villiers raises South Africa spirits with that shot - a great hook shot for four runs. The run-rate still down around 5-an-over though.

6:32pm 13th over: Nathan McCullum is back and appealing for Van der Merwe's wicket mid-over - but nothing doing for the umpire.

No umpire needed for that one! Next ball McCullum beats Van der Merwe with the flight and bowls him!

South Africa 65-4 - Van der Merwe b. McCullum - 0

Three wickets down in 13 balls for South Africa for just two runs. This has "collapse" written all over it.

6:25pm 12th over: Butler's back at the Pavilion End as the Black Caps look to put pressure on the new batsman.

Nevermind the new batsman, Butler's clean bowled Graeme Smith! Great delivery!

South Africa 63-3 - Smith b. Butler - 33

6:21pm 11th over: Another bowling change and this time it's all-rounder Scott Styris coming into the attack. He replaces the frugal Nathan McCullum at the Nursery End.

Styris has a wicket in his first over! Third ball of the over he deceives Gibbs who just pops up a catch straight back to the bowler.

South Africa 63-2 - Gibbs c&b Styris - 3

The wonderfully named Roelof van der Merwe is the new batsman. Someone, please, email me with a suggested nickname for this chap - he's a walking typing error... please?

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6:16pm 10th over: Diamanti is back - will he sparkle this time? Sorry...

A great diving stop from Taylor prevents a certain boundary, denying Smith.

You can't stop a man with the talents of Graeme Smith for long - he flashes hard at the last ball of the over and edges it for four - past the half-hearted dive of Kyle Mills.

6:13pm 9th over: Another very tidy over from Nathan McCullum - just three runs from it. In Twenty20 cricket that's almost as good as a maiden over.

6:06pm 8th over: Diamanti didn't last long - Ian Butler is back to replace him, bowling from the Pavilion End.

A lightening bit of thinking and fielding from Brendon McCullum at point looks to have Kallis run out... we go to the TV umpire...

The verdict's in - or it's "Out" rather - and Kallis trudges back to the dug out.

South Africa - 49-1 - Kallis run out (B. McCullum) - 24

A single for Smith brings up 50 for South Africa - from 45 balls. Gibbs is beaten by one from Butler but walks down the pitch, gesticulating at the Pavilion - indicating he was distracted by movement behind the bowler's arm. Not just beaten by a good ball then Herschelle?

As if to prove the point, the next two balls whistle past Gibbs' outstretched bat - not a flicker in the Pavilion then. Good bowling by Butler.

6:02pm 7th over: Captain Brendon McCullum brings on brother Nathan at the Nursery End. Brendon's not 'keeping to his brother's spin bowling though - it's Peter McGlashan behind the stumps.

A good over from McCullum Jnr. - just two runs from it.

5:55pm 6th over: Brendon Diamanti is the next new bowler, at the Pavilion End for his first spell.

More injury worries for these sides now - first Kallis, now it's Mills needing help from the physio after fielding a rather tame looking ball.

Mills back on his feet and watching as Smith gets a wide delivery from Diamanti - given what it deserved and hit for four.

Four more from the last ball of the over too - Smith going for the rope almost directly down the ground but one bounce makes it a four.

5:48pm 5th over: Ian Butler is the new bowler at the Nursery End. A little 'team-meeting' between Mills, McCullum (Brendon) and Butler as they talk tactics.

Whatever they said, it didn't work - Smith's first boundary comes from Butler's first ball. A neat cut shots goes all the way to the rope.

A mexican wave sweeps its way around the Ground, the most enthusiastically met of the tournament so far at Lord's. Meanwhile, Butler fires one in at Kallis' ribs which he does well to fend off.

A break in play as Kallis is tended to, it appears to be a leg or foot injury - nothing to do with that darting delivery from Butler I think.

5:45pm 4th over: A great stop from Taylor restricts Smith to singles - no boundaries yet for the Proteas' skipper.

Oram adds the first run to the "extras" column, with a wide.

5:40pm 3rd over: Kallis is beaten by late movement for Mills - but next ball and he powers it for four into the on-side this time.

Kallis gets hold of that one too - the last ball of the over. Perhaps not quite where he wanted it but hit with enough power to be six nonetheless.

5:36pm 2nd over: Experienced all-rounder Jacob Oram will open things up at the Pavilion End. Speaking earlier on TV he was saying that T20 cricket requires a far great range of deliveries from a bowler.

The first four of the match so far - Kallis taking it with a great shot into the leg side.

Interestingly, some of my colleagues up here from the India press (here to watch Pakistan earlier no doubt) tell me, having watched him in the IPL, they don't think much of Brendon McCullum's captaincy.

Vettori's are big boots to fill - is McCullum up to it? What do you think? Send us an email: Live@Lords.org.

5:31pm 1st over: By my watch we're already a little late for the first over (must have been that SA anthem) - but when it comes Kyle Mills will be the bowler - Jacques Kallis the first opener on strike.

The first runs - two to Kallis - and a misfield from Butler almost made it four... he nearly threw it over the rope!

Last ball of the over and a great stop from Guptil prevents a near certain boundary - make it just one to Smith.

5:24pm Players are on the field and we'll have the anthems soon - both teams' flags flying proudly on the famous Pavilion at Lord's.

A lot of proud 'Saffas' in the crowd singing along to the (rather lengthy) South Africa anthem. As the New Zealand anthem (much shorter) fires up there's a silver fern flag being waved with vim alongside the national flag in the Compton Stand.

5:15pm Team news; SA team: Smith, Kallis, Gibbs, De Villiers, Duminy; Boucher; A. Morkel; Van der Merwe; Botha; Steyn; Parnell.

NZ team: B. McCullum; Guptil; Broome; Taylor; Styris; Oram; McGlashan; Mills; N. McCullum; Diamanti; Butler.

Vettori's still injured apparently. James Franklin and Jessie Ryder are both nursing "niggling injuries" too - with Super-8 qualification already assured, they're both left out alongside Vettori.

5:09pm Toss news first bit of toss news is that it's not Daniel Vettori at the toss for the Black Caps. Stand-in skipper Brendon McCullum wins the toss and it looks like they'll have a bowl first.

New Zealand win the toss and elect to field.

5:02pm Fewer than 30 minutes until the start - we've just had the rather farcical "Pepsi first ball" where competition winners bowl on the outfield. Today's winner was a young lady who "bowled" so short and wide the batsman had to run after it to hit it! Baffling.

Come on NZ and SA fans - where are you? Drop us an email at Live@Lords.org - you could be the envy of your friends - we'll name check you if you tell us where you're following the match from.

4:49pm I've just had a chat to some of the South Africa press up here in the Investec Media Centre. Given this result does not carry through to the Super-8 stage it's a bit of a dead rubber.

With Jacob Oram on Sky TV saying all the right things about "proud cricket nations" this match does have the feeling of a bit of a run-out. The Protea-press think their side may well use it to give some of the fringe players a go: Yusuf Abdulla was a name mentioned quite a lot.

What do you think Black Cap and Protea fans? Which side would you pick? Send us your emails: Live@Lords.org

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4:27pm Well, that's the starter out of the way - Pakistan crush the Netherlands - now for the main course: New Zealand v South Africa.

Twenty-two of the world's best players at the world's best cricket ground - this should be cracking stuff. Stay with Lords.org to ensure you don't miss a moment of it.

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Where do you see this match heading? Both these teams are already in the Super-8s so it's effectively a Super-8 game (all results against other Super-8 teams will still count).

Black Caps or Proteas - can your team lift the title at Lord's on Sunday 21 June?

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