DUNEDIN, New Zealand, 26 February 2004 — A record third-wicket partnership of 126 between Scott Styris and Hamish Marshall steered New Zealand to a six-wicket win over South Africa in the fourth One-Day International yesterday.

Chris Cairns (29) hit a six over long-on to give New Zealand victory with an over to spare and a 3-1 lead in the six-match series. The stand between Marshall (74) and Styris (69) surpassed New Zealand’s previous best for the third wicket against South Africa, 110 scored by Roger Twose and Stephen Fleming at Kimberley in 2000.

South Africa captain Graeme Smith said his team had been outplayed. “The bowlers plugged away quite well, but the New Zealand batsmen really did well,” Smith said. “New Zealand have been very clinical in the last two games. They really outperformed us. I really think we’ve given it all and we’ve been outperformed and that’s basically it.”

New Zealand had been battling to maintain the required run rate until Styris reached his eighth fifty in One-Day Internationals. He then unleashed a furious sequence of shots off fast bowlers Makhaya Ntini and Jacques Kallis. Styris, whose innings included five fours and a six, was eventually dismissed in the 44th over, lifting an Andre Nel delivery to Lance Klusener backward of point.

Two runs later, Marshall departed, caught on the mid-wicket boundary by Kallis for a 94-ball 74.

All rounder Cairns dispelled any jitters, though, smashing three sixes to bring the total required to below 20 with four overs left, and he nursed the team home with the aid of Craig McMillan, who finished six not out.

Fleming and Michael Papps had given New Zealand a steady start in pursuit of the 260 needed for victory with an opening partnership of 71. Papps was caught by Nicky Boje at midwicket for 29 and Fleming went for 51 after a lazy flick on the leg-side straight to Shaun Pollock at a short midwicket.

Pollock had played after passing a fitness test on an groin injury. He was miserly with the ball, but finished without a wicket for the fifth match in a row. South Africa got off to a slow start, scoring 53 runs in the first 15 overs, and Smith said he and Gibbs were to blame.

“There was a lot of pressure on us and we haven’t been having good starts in some of the matches and today was the same. The wicket was sort of spongy early on and we struggled. It’s fair to say we haven’t adapted too well to the various pitches and grounds.”

Jacques Rudolph topscored for South Africa with an unbeaten 70 as the tourists notched the biggest total of the series, 259 for seven. Rudolph, dropped by Kyle Mills on 50, shared an 84-run partnership for the fifth wicket with Boje (50) after the tourists had been reduced to 100 for four.

Mark Boucher, batting at No. 7, weighed in with 35 to help Rudolph put on 64 for the sixth wicket. The match had been delayed from Tuesday because of rain.

Mahwire replaces Blignaut

Injured Zimbabwe fast bowler Andy Blignaut was replaced by Blessing Mahwire for the second Test against Bangladesh.

Blignaut, who took the first Test hat trick by a Zimbabwean on Sunday to pave the way for his team’s 183-run in the first Test in Harare, was ruled out with a strained right thigh. “It’s disappointing to lose Andy, but we’ve got Blessing Mahwire coming in and hopefully he will give us the pace we need,” Zimbabwe coach Geoff Marsh said.

Zimbabwe also face injury concerns over captain and fast bowler Heath Streak (back spasm) and batsman Stuart Carlisle (quadricep).

The second and final Test starts today.