South Africa's Morne Morkel (left) celebrates the dismissal of New Zealand's Shane Bond during their Twenty20 World Cup match in Durban yesterday. South Africa won by six wickets. - AP

DURBAN, South Africa, (Reuters):

FAST BOWLER Morne Morkel earned Captain Graeme Smith's praise after he set up South Africa's six-wicket win over New Zealand in a Twenty20 World Cup Super Eights match yesterday.

Morkel took four for 17 to restrict New Zealand to 153 for eight.

South Africa replied with 158 for four to win with five balls to spare.

"He has the ability to bowl quick and, with hi to get bounce," Smith told a news conference.

"The calmness he is handling himself with and the trust he is showing in his own bowling has been great.

"He's a humble guy and I'd like to keep him working hard and making further progress."

The other outstanding performer for South Africa was Justin Kemp, who smashed an unbeaten 89 off 56 balls with six fours and six sixes.

Confident

Kemp said he was confident of reaching the target set by New Zealand.

"It's such a good wicket that if you get set you could chase anything," Kemp said.

The big-hitting Kemp bristled at a suggestion that he was a specialist Twenty20 player.

"I've already been labelled a one-day cricketer, so please don't go there," Kemp said.

Kemp smashed six fours and six sixes in his 56-ball 89 not out, the top score in South Africa's reply.

However, Morkel led the South African fightback after Lou Vincent (32) and Brendon McCullum (38) had put on 68 for New Zealand's first wicket.

First five-wicket haul

Morkel was denied the first five-wicket haul in Twenty20 inter-nationals when umpire Billy Doctrove ruled that the delivery that bowled Mark Gillespie in Morkel's last over was a no-ball.

New Zealand fell away after their sturdy opening stand and they depended heavily on Craig McMillan's unbeaten 48 to post a respectable total.

McMillan and Jacob Oram (15) shared 41 for the fifth wicket, New Zealand's only other noteworthy stand.

In South Africa's reply, Kemp and Mark Boucher (23) put on 65 for the fourth wicket after their side had slipped to 45 for three.

Shaun Pollock (16 not out) helped Kemp complete the job with an unbroken stand of 48 and South Africa won with five balls to spare.