Some of the world’s finest all-rounders were on show in Cape Town, with Jacques Kallis, Shaun Pollock, Chris Cairns and Klusener among the leading names.

But it was Klusener who stole the headlines, striking consecutive boundaries off the final two deliveries to complete a remarkable comeback and secure a 5-0 ODI series triumph.

New Zealand had earlier recovered from 39-3 to post 256-9, courtesy of Roger Twose’s maiden ODI century and a magnificent innings from Cairns.

Twose struck 103 off 115 deliveries, while Cairns hammered 84 off 72 balls, including four sixes. Two of those came off consecutive Kallis deliveries, with the South African enduring a difficult afternoon, conceding 52 runs in five overs.

Roger Telemachus was the pick of the home attack, returning figures of 3-30, while Pollock claimed 2-44.

South Africa’s chase began disastrously, with Kallis dismissed for a first-ball duck as the hosts slipped to 30-3.

Jonty Rhodes (69) and Mark Boucher (46) revived the innings with a 106-run partnership, but New Zealand regained the initiative to leave South Africa struggling at 189-7 in the 42nd over.

With defeat looming, Klusener had other ideas.

The powerful left-hander found support from debutant Shafiek Abrahams, who contributed an unbeaten 16 in an unbroken 69-run eighth-wicket partnership.

Klusener struck four sixes during his unbeaten 59 off 42 deliveries, leaving South Africa needing seven runs from the final two balls.

He smashed Shayne O’Connor’s penultimate delivery down the ground for four before dispatching a full toss through wide midwicket to send the Newlands crowd into celebration.

South Africa finished on 258-7, completing a remarkable three-wicket victory off the final delivery.

Klusener was deservedly named Man of the Match, providing another reminder of why the man affectionately known as Zulu was regarded as one of the most destructive finishers in world cricket.

Photo: Carl Fourie/Gallo Images