Port Elizabeth, December 1:

Brendon McCullum and Jamie How pounded the South African bowlers as New Zealand ended a losing streak with an emphatic seven-wicket victory in the second one-day international here on Friday.

McCullum (81) and How (76) put on 154 for the second wicket as New Zealand cruised in with 11.2 overs to spare to level the three-match series. The deciding match will be in Cape Town on Sunday. New Zealand’s win followed heavy defeats in two Tests and losses in a Twenty20 international and the first one-day international.

The Black Caps dominated most of the match, reducing South Africa to 66-5.

All-rounder Shaun Pollock and wicketkeeper Mark Boucher added 89 for the sixth

wicket to enable South Africa to make 209-9.

New Zealand lost Lou Vincent to a run-out with only nine runs scored but McCullum and How made the target look easy. McCullum was in particularly good form as he hammered 81 off 85 balls with nine fours and a six before being run out by substitute Dale Steyn while attempting a second run. How made 76 off 106 balls with 11 boundaries.

Opening bowler Kyle Mills struck the first blows for New Zealand, dismissing

openers Herschelle Gibbs and Smith without scoring. Mills followed up his 5-25 in Durban by taking 3-43 while fellow new ball bowler Mark Gillespie took 3-55.

New Zealand produced their best bowling and fielding performance of a disappointing tour before Pollock (52) and Boucher (48) rebuilt the innings. Tailender Andre Nel gave the innings late impetus when he hit a six and two fours off the 49th over, bowled by Mills. Then he edged a four and slogged a six off the last two balls of the innings from Gillespie to finish with 30 not out off 13 balls.