South Africa set a daunting target of 171 for New Zealand in their Group-1 match of the Super Ten Series in the fifth World Twenty20 here at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium on Monday.

After being sent into bat by New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum, who won the toss, South Africa made a disastrous start losing three top-order batsmen for 42 runs.

However, Hashim Amla and Jean-Paul Duminy rescued their team from collapse adding 55 valuable runs to take them to 97.

Amla departed after making 41 off 40 balls with two fours but Duminy continued his aggressive batting display and completed his seventh fifty in T20 international cricket.

He took South Africa to 170 for six at the end of the 20th over with an unbeaten 86. He hit ten fours and three sixes during his 43-ball innings.

For New Zealand, pacers Corey Anderson and Tim Southee claimed two wickets each.