Plays of the day from the one-off T20 between South Africa and New Zealand at Eden Park

Andrew McGlashan in Auckland17-Feb-2017Hard workers of the dayThere are many grounds around the world where this match would have been called off hours before the start given the amount of rain that fell over the preceding 36 hours. But a combination of the ground’s superb drainage and the efforts of the groundstaff, who were working from early morning to get the surface ready, meant the game started on time. Eden Park has its oddities as a cricket ground, but earned its corn to beat the deluge.Save of the dayBen Wheeler’s day did not quite go to plan, although many a bowler has been unpicked by Hashim Amla, but he did play a key part in the first wicket New Zealand. Amla edged through slip and Wheeler, at third man, managed to make a one-handed diving save around the rope which meant it was only a single. Next ball, Quinton de Kock got underneath a short delivery from Trent Boult and picked out Mitchell Santner on the deep square-leg boundary.Small revenge of the dayWheeler’s day with the ball did have one bright spot, though, when he returned and ended Amla’s stylish 62 with probably the ugliest shot he had played all innings. Moving to leg, Amla hoisted high into the leg side where Tom Bruce steadied himself under the chance. However, conceding two sixes in his final over made it an expensive effort overall as he went for 49.Record of the dayBoult was far above the rest of the New Zealand bowlers – in record-setting style. His four overs, spread over three spells, went for just eight runs which made it the most economical figures by a New Zealand pace bowler in T20Is. The overall record is held by Daniel Vettori’s 4-1-6-3 against Bangladesh in 2013, but Boult has slotted in ahead of Ian Butler, the previous best by a quick, who had 4-0-9-2 against England at Hamilton in 2013.Step-up of the dayGlenn Phillips’ call-up had created much interest when the 20-year-old was promoted to the New Zealand side after a stellar Super Smash (and before he’d played a first-class match). It was an understandably nervy start for him. Everything came a little faster than in the domestic T20 competition. He played out four dot balls before scampering a single to mid-off to get off the mark, but with 5 off 10 to his name, had a swing at Chris Morris and inside-edged to the keeper.