Scorecard

Stephen Fleming played a mature innings of 89 to help New Zealand post a decent 195 all out against South Africa in the Group B ICC Champions Trophy match at the Brabourne Stadium in Mumbai on Monday.

All-rounder Jacques Kallis, celebrated his 31st birthday in style, finishing with 3 for 28 in seven overs as the Kiwis struggled to come to terms on a slow surface.

Fleming battled for more than three hours, hitting 11 boundaries in his 112-ball knock, as the rest of the batsmen failed to provide him support. Brendon McCullum (21) was the only other batsmen with some meaningful contribution.

Left-arm spinner Robin Peterson took 2 for 34 as New Zealand lost the plot in the middle overs and were bundled out in the 46th over after being 74 for 1 at one stage.

New Zealand innings:

Lou Vincent signalled New Zealand's intentions early, hitting a lofted boundary off speedster Makhaya Ntini over the mid-off fielder. They were aware that batting would be difficult on this slow pitch and it was important to make use of the fielding restrictions.

The pitch for the match was different from the one used in the last match, where Sri Lanka bundled out the West Indies 80.

Vincent looked to attack and force the pace early on, while captain Stephen Fleming was content to play the singles and wait for the loose deliveries.

However, Vincent, after a few forceful boundaries, he dragged one to his stumps and was bowled by Pollock for 17 in the seventh over.

Fleming then added 47 runs for the second wicket with Astle (14), before the latter's stumps were castled by a yorker from Andre Hall.

New Zealand lost another wicket in the next over, when Hamish Marshall played on to his stumps and left his team in a bit of bother at 76 for 3 in the 18th over.

Birthday boy Jacques Kallis, who turned 31 today, started off his day on the right note, getting the wicket of Peter Fulton in his very first over to reduce the Kiwis to 86 for 4 after 21 overs.

After quite a good start, New Zealand were slowly dragging themselves by losing wickets at regular intervals. Fleming looked solid on 45 at the other end, but was getting very little support from the other batsmen.

Tall left-hander Jacob Oram's innings was a big struggle as he failed to read left-arm spinner Robin Peterson. After a few close shouts, he finally gave the short leg fielder a simple catch and was dismissed for 7.

The spinners -- Peterson and Graeme Smith -- proved a handful in the middle overs as they not only kept the batsmen in a tight leash, but also picked three important wickets.

Fleming led from the front with a solid innings of 89, before he became Kallis's third victim of the innings, flicking him straight to Shaun Pollock on the fine leg boundary. If not for Fleming, it could well have been a batting disaster for New Zealand, as the other batsmen failed to make a decent contribution.

The New Zealand captain's 110-ball knock contained 11 boundaries and he battled hard in the hot and humid conditions at the Brabourne for more than three hours.

The last wicket didn't take long to fall as Jeetan Patel was run out for 1 to end the New Zealand at 195 in 45.4 overs.

Kallis was the most successful bower, claiming 3 for 28 in his seven overs, while Peterson took 2 for 34.

However, New Zealand could take heart from the fact that batting is not at all easy on this pitch. It suited the South African all-rounders and spinners, and New Zealand does possess a few slow medium pacers and spinners, who could also be handy.

Early wickets will once again be the key and if New Zealand can strike a few blows early on, they could well call the shots from there on. There could also be the dew factor, which could give the spinners a bit of worry as the match progresses under lights.