Proteas too strong for Black Caps

Full scorecard: New Zealand v South Africa

Skipper AB de Villiers and JP Duminy have guided South Africa to a comfortable six-wicket victory over New Zealand in the opening one-day cricket international in Mt Maunganui.

The pair put on an unbeaten 139-run partnership as the Proteas reached 236-4, passing their target of 231 with 11 balls to spare at Bay Oval.

De Villiers got his 89 off 85 balls, while Duminy added 58, hitting the winning runs with the second of his two sixes.

Black Caps skipper Brendon McCullum says it was good early-season hit-out for his team and felt the game was closer than indicated on the scoreboard.

"We're pretty proud of our efforts to get to 230 after staring down the barrel of a pretty low score," he said.

"There were some fighting qualities there, but unfortunately the class of AB and JP towards the end got them home."

McCullum described the efforts of wicketkeeper Luke Ronchi with the bat and pace bowler Trent Boult with the ball as outstanding.

Ronchi hit a career-best 99 to help give the New Zealand total some respectability.

Boult picked up two early wickets on the way to finishing with the Black Caps attack's best figures of 2-40.

There was also the positive for McCullum of seeing spinner Dan Vettori, in his first international in almost 18 months, come through his 10 overs.

Despite his knock, South African captain AB de Villiers described the wicket as one where he didn't feel fully comfortable at any stage.

But he said that probably played into his hands by forcing him to be more conservative.

De Villiers had mixed feelings about the Proteas' performance in the field, after having New Zealand at 68-5 and 156-9 but not being able to finish them off more cheaply.

"We know New Zealand are a team that can defend really well if they get a good score on the board," he said.

"They didn't get a great score, but I thought 230 was defendable and we needed a couple of partnerships."

Dannevirke-born Ronchi's innings beat his previous best of 64 for Australia against the West Indies in 2008.

He eclipsed that score in style, lofting a Vernon Philander delivery for six over mid-wicket.

He and Boult then put on 74 to set a New Zealand record for a 10th-wicket stand in an ODI.

But having got to touching distance of his maiden century, Ronchi edged a Dale Steyn ball to keeper Quinton de Kock, who picked up his sixth dismissal of the innings.

The teams return to Bay Oval on Friday for the second encounter of the three-match series.

New Zealand: Martin Guptill, Jimmy Neesham, Dean Brownlie, Brendon McCullum (capt), Tom Latham, Corey Anderson, Luke Ronchi, Daniel Vettori, Nathan McCullum, Kyle Mills, Trent Boult. 12th man Mitchell McClenaghan.

South Africa: Hashim Amla, Quinton de Kock, Faf du Plessis, Rilee Rossouw, AB de Villiers (capt), JP Duminy, Ryan McLaren, Vernon Philander, Dale Steyn, Morne Morkel, Imran Tahir. 12th man Aaron Phangiso.

Umpires: Rod Tucker (Australia), Chris Gaffaney (NZ). Third umpire: Steve Davis (Australia)