New Zealand have been challenged not for the first time in their home territory in Limited Overs International (LOI) cricket in the last four years. But if South Africa win the sixth and final match of the series and take the series 4-2 (plus one 'No Result'), they would become the first team to beat New Zealand in New Zealand in a LOI series since January 1995.

New Zealand have remained unbeaten in a home series since West Indies beat them 3-0 in early 1995. Although they have come very close to losing a home series many times since then, their fighting spirit has usually meant that they would not let that happen very easily. It is, therefore, interesting to see if the Kiwis let South Africa take the series: the recent history suggests that chances are, they would not; as can be summarized in the close encounters among others, as follows:

1995-96 v Pakistan - Won the last match to square the series 2-2.

1996-97 v England - Tied the third match and won the fourth and fifth to square the series 2-2 (plus 1 tied) after being down 0-2.

1997-98 v Australia - Won the last two matches after being down 0-2 to level the series 2-2.

1997-98 v Zimbabwe - Won the last two matches to win the series 2-1 after losing the opening match.

1998-99 v India - Won the fifth match to square the series 2-2 after being down 1-2 (plus 1 no result).

New Zealand's home record (in series involving not more than two teams) since their last home series defeat is as follows:

Against         Season        Played  Won    Lost     Tied    No Result

Sri Lanka       1995-96         3       2       1       0       0
Pakistan        1995-96         4       2       2       0       0
Zimbabwe        1995-96         3       2       1       0       0
England         1996-97         5       2       2       1       0
Sri Lanka       1996-97         2       1       1       0       0
Zimambwe        1996-97         2       2       0       0       0
Australia       1997-98         4       2       2       0       0
Zimbabwe        1997-98         3       2       1       0       0
India           1998-99         5       2       2       0       1
*South Africa   1998-99         6       2       3       0       1

TOTAL                          37      19      15       1       2

* With one more match to be played.

Contributed by: Atul Kahate (AKahate@yahoo.com)