New Zealand are heartened by their room for improvement heading into the second one-day international against South Africa in Potchefstroom.
The Black Caps' South African-born batsman Colin Munro says their 20-run loss in the first game at Centurion was a rusty effort yet they were in contention right up until the end.
He says a repeat of their historic 2-1 ODI victory over the Proteas two years ago - their first on South African soil - is within them.
"We didn't play the perfect game the other night but we only just got beaten chasing 300 so everyone's still pretty upbeat," he said.
"We just need to do things a little bit better in the next game and I'm sure we'll come out on the right side."
Munro says his 33 off 32 balls batting at No.7 felt like his best innings in 10 ODIs for the Black Caps and was disappointed when trapped LBW by spinner Imran Tahir as a possible win loomed.
"It doesn't show in the score, but the way I went about my innings was nice and calm and collected.
"To play a rash shot like that at the end was very disappointing."
He appreciated a rare opportunity with the ball, taking 0-19 off four tight overs of his right-arm seamers to slow the home team's progress.
He hopes to get another chance to show his bowling wares in Potchefstroom and in the final game at the city of his birth, Durban.
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