Imran Tahir claims fifer as Proteas hammer Kiwis by 78 runs in T20I

South Africa rode on leg-spinner Imran Tahir's career-best five-wicket haul to thrash New Zealand by 78 runs in the one-off T20 match at Eden Park today

South Africa's Imran Tahir celebrates a New Zealand wicket during their T20I match at Eden Park in Auckland yesterday. Pic/ AFP

Auckland: South Africa rode on leg-spinner Imran Tahir's career-best five-wicket haul to thrash New Zealand by 78 runs in the one-off T20 match at Eden Park today.

Put in to bat, opener Hashim Amla's 43-ball 62 and skipper Faf du Plessis' quickfire 36 helped South Africa to 185-6 before Tahir (5-24) restricted the hosts to 107 in 14.5 overs. Amla along with du Plessis, put on 87 runs for the second wicket to help the Proteas reach the three-figure mark.

Later, AB de Villiers (26) and JP Duminy (29) helped the visitors to 185. In reply, the hosts were off to a dismal start and lost half their side with the score at 60. Tom Bruce was the top scorer for the Kiwis with 33 runs as only four of the batsmen managed to reach double figures. While Tahir was the wrecker-in-chief, pacer Andile Phehlukwayo bagged three wickets.

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