New Zealand wins toss and opts to bowl in 1st ODI vs. South Africa

CENTURION, South Africa _ New Zealand won the toss and chose to bowl in the first one-day international against South Africa on Wednesday.

New Zealand kept the same team that won the second Twenty20 international over the weekend to draw that series 1-1. That means Martin Guptill and captain Kane Williamson continue as opening batsmen.

New Zealand’s frontline bowling attack is made up of seamers Mitchell McClenaghan and Adam Milne, and two spinners in Nathan McCullum and Ish Sodhi.

South Africa batsman Faf du Plessis is still missing with injury, so captain AB de Villiers was listed to bat at No. 3. Fast bowlers Dale Steyn and Vernon Philander and spinner Imran Tahir return to the lineup after sitting out the T20 games. Allrounder David Wiese makes his ODI debut.

The countries will contest a three-match ODI series. It’s their first one-day game since New Zealand beat South Africa in the semifinals at this year’s Cricket World Cup.

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Lineups:

South Africa: AB de Villiers (captain), Hashim Amla, Morne van Wyk, Rilee Rossouw, Farhaan Behardien, David Miller, David Wiese, Kagiso Rabada, Vernon Philander, Dale Steyn, Imran Tahir.

New Zealand: Kane Williamson (captain), Martin Guptill, Tom Latham, Grant Elliott, James Neesham, Luke Ronchi, Colin Munro, Nathan McCullum, Adam Milne, Mitchell McClenaghan, Ish Sodhi.

The Associated Press