All eyes on the skies as ODI series heads back to Hamilton

If South Africa’s players feel like they’ve been shot in this movie before when they take to Seddon Park on Wednesday to play New Zealand in the fourth one-day international‚ that’s because they have been.

The first match of the series was played there on February 19‚ with the fourth scheduled for Napier.

But the latter game was moved because of concerns over Napier’s outfield‚ which is to undergo extensive rehabilitation in the wake of an ODI there on February 1 being abandoned because of the effects of poor drainage.

The fact that the visitors won the first ODI by four wickets with a ball remaining might make South Africans think their team‚ who lead the series 2-1‚ have the advantage as they bid to clinch the rubber on Wednesday.

Closer to the truth is the fact that the pitch for the first ODI spent longer than usual under the covers because of rain and consequently offered more movement off the seam than usual .

And that played into the hands of South Africa’s pace attack‚ who were led by Chris Morris’ haul of 4/62.

Rain has been forecast for Tuesday night in Hamilton‚ but Wednesday’s weather is predicted as dry.

Unsurprisingly‚ the Kiwis are keeping a close eye on the weather and its likely influence on the conditions.

“We don’t know what the surface is going to be like‚ but if it’s anything like last time then batting's going to be hard‚” Mitchell Santner told reporters.

The uncertainty seemed to set Santner’s mind wandering in hopeful directions.

“If it’s going to spin we’ve got very good spin bowling options‚ but they’ve got (leg spinner Imran) Tahir and (left-arm wrist spinner Tabraiz) Shamsi that can do a job as well‚” he said.

“It’s about not allowing ourselves to get flustered and trying to take the game as deep as possible.”

The game has indeed been taken deep in two of the matches‚ with the teams each winning one.

In the other‚ in Wellington on Saturday‚ South Africa dismissed the home side for 112 to win by 159 runs on another seaming pitch.

So it’s not difficult to understand why the New Zealanders are keen on a pitch that‚ even though they have Trent Boult and Tim Southee in their ranks‚ does not help South Africa’s quicks.

- TMG Digital