De Villiers and J-P Duminy gave the South Africa innings its necessary spine. The pair employed an accumulation strategy when they came together after 9.5 overs. For 11 overs they exercised patience, putting on their first 43 runs with just one boundary. Their eventual partnership of 90 gave South Africa the necessary traction to cruise to the win.
Left-hander Duminy proved an admirable foil with 46, forcing the field to switch and disorientate itself regularly as the singles mounted. Faf du Plessis also proved worthy with an unbeaten 66 from 49 balls to close out the match.
The Kiwis set a well-paced 253 for nine and backed it with early wickets and tight fielding as they looked to absolve remnants of Wednesday's deciding Twenty 20 choke. However, hints of doubt always remained on a batting-friendly wicket with decent carry.
Runs on the board proved an early weapon. Tim Southee channelled controlled fury rather than his recent loose-lipped bravado to scythe through the defences of the world's best one-day batsman Hashim Amla.
Kyle Mills also looked fresh despite a recent stomach bug to snap up Graeme Smith with a ball jagging away. Rather than their use of spin to open up the Twenty20 matches, Nathan McCullum had to wait his turn until the 13th over.
New Zealand's innings was notable for its adaptability away from the T20 frenzy. Time was set aside for strokemaking, particularly guiding the ball backward of point through the offside, rather than looking to smash through midwicket at every opportunity. Singles were a cherished commodity; compilation rather than combat was the trend.
The New Zealanders rarely looked under threat, even from the likes of Dale Steyn who made his first international appearance in this country. Steyn showed touches of class with his off- and leg-cutters but New Zealand's ability to nullify the tearaway for the most part (even on a batsman's wicket) will have instilled confidence.
McCullum's innings was appropriately restrained as he tried to establish a significant total knowing the South African batting might to come. His 56 off 67 balls lacked flamboyance but it was a captain's knock. He faced 41 balls and made 21 runs before hitting his first boundary. However, it was the sensible option after the early loss of Martin Guptill (his first international score under 10 since early December). McCullum also received the benefit of the doubt on two decision reviews; one for a lbw given by his former Otago team-mate turned umpire Chris Gaffaney when he shouldered arms first ball, and the other a caught behind that went against South Africa.
Williamson continues to impress with his adaptability between each cricketing format. A strike rate of 116 in the T20s was eased back last night to a shade under 80 in his 55. He used the pace of the ball to milk runs at will and his ability to play equally off the front or back foot stands him in good stead for matching the formidable Proteas' test attack.
Left-arm pace bowler Lonwabo Tsotsobe was the pick of the bowlers with two wickets for 41 including an opening spell of one for 15 from six overs. He produced a nagging line just short of a length over the wicket and the New Zealanders found him hard to get away. When he pitched up to Guptill and Williamson they edged behind to de Villiers which was just reward.
SCOREBOARD
