New Zealand beat South Africa in the second one day international here on Tuesday to take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three match series. New Zealand batsman Kane Williamson's superb unbeaten career best 145 saw the tourists to a total of 279-8 while the hosts were all out for 252 in their reply to lose by 27 runs.

New Zealand’s victory goes some way towards putting behind them their 2-0 test series defeat by the South Africans. Williamson's knock was only the second century for New Zealand on their tour of South Africa and saw him bounce back from a disappointing Test series with a confident, stroke-filled innings.

Despite Williamson's heroics, South Africa were on course for victory until two run-outs in successive overs derailed their run chase. There were a total of five run-outs as the hosts limped to defeat while the New Zealand players shouted for joy and hugged each other on the field as they retrieved some pride after losing both Test matches by an innings.

Williamson and Grant Elliott (48) laid the foundation for New Zealand's total with a third wicket stand of 127 off 128 balls. Williamson reached his third one-day international hundred off exactly 100 balls with 14 fours. He was hampered by cramp in the later stages of his innings but finished with a career-best 145 not out off 136 balls with 17 fours and a six.

It was the first century for the tourists since Martin Guptill made a match-winning 101 not out in the second Twenty20 international in East London in December. Williamson and Elliott enabled New Zealand to recover from a slow start in which they were no runs for the loss of Guptill's wicket in three overs after being sent in.

On a ground with a history of successful run chases - with two over 300 having been achieved in one-day internationals, South Africa looked in control as Graeme Smith and Colin Ingram put on 139 for the second wicket. But former captain Smith called for a risky third run in the 31st over and was run out by a superb throw from third man by James Franklin for 66.

In the next over new captain Faf du Plessis was run out by a direct hit by Nathan McCullum from short cover when he ventured out of his crease before being sent back. Ingram was caught at mid-off for 79 three overs later and South Africa's inexperienced batting line-up - weakened by the loss of suspended captain AB de Villiers and the injured Hashim Amla - were unable to regain the momentum.

Meanwhile, New Zealand captain McCullum acclaimed one of his country's finest one-day series wins. "It is one of the finest one-day series wins in New Zealand's history, the ninth-ranked team against the top team," said McCullum. "It is incredibly satisfying to finish off the tour this way." McCullum said Williamson's innings was "one of the best we have seen from a New Zealander."

"We didn't play well in the end," said Du Plessis. "From 167 for one you should win the game. The batting unit must take responsibility. But it is a young team and hopefully we can learn from this."

scoreboard

NEW ZEALAND:
M Guptill c Du Plessis b Kleinveldt 0
B Watling lbw b Morkel 12
K Williamson not out 145
G Elliott c De Kock b Kleinveldt 48
B McCullum b Morkel 17
C Munro c Ingram b Tsotsobe 9
J Franklin b Tsotsobe 0
J Neesham run out 5
N McCullum c Tsotsobe b Morkel 19
K Mills not out 15
EXTRAS: (lb4, w5) 9
TOTAL: (8 wkts, 50 overs) 279
FOW: 1-0, 2-32, 3-159, 4-188, 5-201, 6-202, 7-211, 8-245
BOWLING: Kleinveldt 10-2-45-2, Tsotsobe 10-2-38-2, Morkel 10-1-71-3, McLaren 8-0-57-0, Peterson 9-0-45-0, Du Plessis 3-0-19-0
SOUTH AFRICA:
Q de Kock b Mills 25
G Smith run out 66
C Ingram c Watling b N McCullum 79
F du Plessis run out 2
F Behardien run out 31
D Miller run out 14
R McLaren c Guptill b Franklin 2
R Kleinveldt run out 0
R Peterson c N McCullum b Mills 0
M Morkel not out 19
L Tsotsobe b Neesham 9
EXTRAS: (nb1, w4) 5
TOTAL: (all out; 49.1 overs) 252
FOW: 1-38, 2-167, 3-174, 4-180, 5-211, 6-215, 7-216, 8-224, 9-232
BOWLING: Mills 9-2-28-2, McClenaghan 10-0-51-0, N. McCullum 10-0-56-1, Williamson 3-0-22-0, Franklin 10-0-52-1, Neesham 3.1-0-20-1, Elliott 4-0-23-0
MAN OF THE MATCH: Kane Williamson (NZ)
TOSS: South Africa
UMPIRES: Aleem Dar (PAK), Johan Cloete (RSA)
TV UMPIRE: Enamul Haque (BAN)
MATCH REFEREE: David Boon (AUS)
MATCH REFEREE: David Boon (AUS)