Duminy says NZ's fielding 'world benchmark' despite Proteas winning in first ODI

South African batsman J.P. Duminy has said that New Zealand fielding remains the benchmark in world cricket despite his side beating the hosts in the first ODI at Mt. Maunganui.

South Africa can clinch the three-match ODI series in game two on Friday after a six-wicket win chasing New Zealand's sub-par total of 230 in the opener.

Duminy, who remained unbeaten on 58, helped skipper A.B. de Villiers, 89 not out, guide the chase home at Bay Oval, but admitted that it was hard work, labelling the New Zealand side very street smart in their bowling and fielding methods, Stuff.co.nz reported.

Duminy said that it's definitely a tick in their box the way the New Zealand squad go about their business in terms of their aggressive nature in the field. He added that as a batter one always has that intimidating feeling, that fielders are in their space and that's obviously what the hosts' skipper Brendon McCullum is trying to employ there.

Duminy also said that it's good to see the way McCullum captains his team and there's definitely something South Africa can take out of it, just keeping that aggressive nature no matter what the situation of the game; keep trying to press and trying to squeeze the batting side.

Both unbeaten batsmen said scoring wasn't easy against the hosts' approach on the sluggish Bay Oval pitch, which would be used again in game two.

Duminy felt 250 would be a challenging par score on the ground. New Zealand only threatened that via a blazing 99 from Luke Ronchi after they slumped to 68-5, then 156-9 without injured duo Kane Williamson and Ross Taylor.