Guptill targeted

GET Guptill! That's the order the Proteas will have for the second T20 match against the Black Caps here today.

And with AB de Villiers admitting that he made mistakes in his use of bowlers during South Africa's six-wicket loss in the first T20 in Wellington on Friday, the Kiwis can expect a targeted assault in the second match, especially against top batsman Martin Guptill.

Albie Morkel and Lonwabo Tsotsobe, who conceded 48 runs in six overs, made the mistake of bowling at Guptill's favourite hitting area. The 25-year-old Aucklander had a field day, slamming four sixes and taking New Zealand to victory with an unbeaten 78.

It was his sixth successive half-century in internationals this summer.

Friday's defeat startled SA.

Their vaunted attack lacked all penetration on a pitch that had little seam movement.

Today the Proteas have the chance to turn Friday's performance on its head. The pitch at Hamilton's Seddon Park is expected to be faster.

Despite their obvious shortcomings, the Proteas were also unlucky in Wellington. A leg-before decision that was turned down looked out on the replay and Guptill, as if his batting onslaught was not enough, did a magnificent Jonty Rhodes impersonation to run out Hashim Amla.

Kiwis are intrigued by a looming duel between New Zealand quick Tim Southee and SA's tyro-apparent Richard Levi. Levi was hit on the helmet by Southee on Friday and he was also the butt of some vicious sledging by the fast bowler. Will he become Southee's bunny? Levi has the chance to dispute that today.

The Kiwis are expected to persevere with their spinners today, though surprise choice Roweel Hira, who got only two overs (and took the key wicket of De Villiers) was expected to sit out.

That would leave Rob Nicol, Kane Williamson and Nathan McCullum in the attack.

For the Proteas, the T20 is a work in progress. They have set up a seven-month programme with its main objective success in the T20 ICC World Cup in Sri Lanka in September.

Black Caps coach John Wright, who has seemingly successfully adopted Proteas manager Gary Kirsten's dictum - I have a team of stars but I want a star team - has a few selection problems. The captaincy is one.

Ross Taylor, the anointed one, is out of action until the tests. He tore ligaments in his right leg and was replaced as captain by former skipper Brendon McCullum, who is highly respected as a leader and strategist.

Then the big issue of Jesse Ryder looms. He has been told by Wright to lose weight.

And in the wings is another medium pacer, Dean Brownlee, who suffered a broken finger against Zimbabwe. Brownlee will return to provincial action on March 2 and if proved fit, will come into contention.

Meanwhile, the two South Africans vying for the New Zealand wicketkeeping berth in the tests, BJ Watling and Kruger van Wyk, had a good day yesterday in provincial cricket. Watling, who plays for Northern Knights, scored an unbeaten 42 against Central Stags while Stags' Van Wyk took two catches behind the stumps. Another South African, Neil Wagner, considered a shoo-in for selection by the Black Caps for their West Indies tour, grabbed 2/21 and scored 29 for Otago against Auckland. He becomes a New Zealander on April 2.

Former Black Caps star Adam Parore yesterday hailed Jacques Kallis as "the best allrounder of all time", better even than the great West Indian, Garfield Sobers, who is generally considered the incumbent.

In a column in the New Zealand Herald, Parore acknowledged putting Kallis ahead of Sobers "borders on sacrilege to some", but said: "I'm not overly keen on comparing players across eras, but can't resist when it comes to Kallis. If it came to picking an allrounder for your life, Kallis would be the man."