Proteas edge Kiwis

South Africa left-arm spinner Roelof van der Merwe took two key wickets as the Proteas beat New Zealand by one run off the last ball in their 'dead' World Twenty20 group clash at Lord's here on Tuesday.

The Black Caps were cruising at 82 for two, chasing just 129 to win, when van der Merwe, who finished with two for 14, bowled Ross Taylor as the batsman slogged across the line.

He then had top scorer Brendon McCullum stumped for 57 and New Zealand were 93 for four off 17 overs.

Come the last over, from teenage seamer Wayne Parnell, New Zealand still needed 15 to win.

With 10 runs required off three balls, a diving Jacques Kallis at long-off dropped Jacob Oram and next ball the left-hander glanced a boundary.

But with four needed off the last ball, Oram couldn't manage a repeat display and was run out by South Africa captain Graeme Smith.

Left-handed opener Smith top-scored for his side with 33 off 35 balls in a modest total of 128 for seven.

However, this was a 'meaningless' match with both sides already through to the second stage Super Eights after they'd each defeated minnows Scotland.

Earlier, Ian Butler led the New Zealand attack with two for 13.

Stand-in captain McCullum got the Black Caps off to a brisk start and he went on to complete a 46-ball fifty with five fours.

But Martin Guptill, opening in place of the injured Jesse Ryder, went cheaply for six.

And when Neil Broom, who'd taken Ryder's place in the side, was caught and bowled for one by a diving Kallis, New Zealand were 26 for two.

But a stand of 56 between McCullum and Taylor appeared to have repaired the early damage.

New Zealand were again without captain Daniel Vettori because of the left-arm spinner's shoulder injury.

Both these teams begin their Super Eights programme at Trent Bridge on Thursday. New Zealand play Ireland while South Africa take on hosts England.

SCORES IN BRIEF
SOUTH AFRICA: 128 for 7 in 20 overs (Smith 33, Kallis 24, Duminy 29, De Villiers 15; Butler 2-13)
NEW ZEALAND: 127 for 5 in 20 overs (McCullum 57, Taylor 22, Oram 24; Van der Merwe 2-14)
Result: South Africa won by one run.
Man-of-the-match: RE van der Merwe.