Sports Desk
PUNE: An impressive performance in all the three departments guided South Africa to 190-run win over high-flying New Zealand in a crucial match of the World Cup 2023 MCA International Stadium, Pune, on Wednesday. Kiwis were bowled out for 167 runs in 35.2 overs as they were chasing a mammoth total of 357 runs to cement their position in top 4 on the points table.
Kiwis were served first blow in the third over when opener Devon Conway was dismissed for two runs by Marco Jansen.
Jansen made another strike in ninth over when he removed Rachin Ravindra for just nine runs. Will Young tried to boost the chase but he was sent to packing for 33 by Gerald Coetzee. Skipper Tom Lat-ham fell for cheap scores followed by quick four wickets.
Glenn Phillips played a fiery knock of 60 runs but it could not save his side from the defeat. South Africa’s Keshav Maharaj claimed four-wicket haul while Marco Jansen took three wickets to devastate the opponents’ batting order.
Earlier, powerful knocks from Quinton de Kock and Rassie van der Dussen guided South Africa to post a giant tough target of 358 runs against New Zealand.
Proteas skipper Temba Bavuma and Kock took a strong start with former smashing a number of confi-dent strokes.
However, Bavuma was outdone by Trent Boult. The experienced seamer got the South Africa captain to drive a delivery which landed at an uncomfortable length and induced a thick edge that went to the first slip.
David Miller fell for brilliant 53 off 30 when Rassie van der Dussen joined the opener on the crease. Both lit up the stadium with stunning boundaries to complete their centuries.
New Zealand managed to eke out the dangerous Quinton de Kock in the 40th over, but this wasn’t be-fore the batter had scored a magnificent 114 in Pune.
Earlier, New Zealand won the toss and opted to bowl first against South Africa.
Pre-match Coverage
A victory here will have the winner with one foot in the semi-finals of the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup, while the loser may become vulnerable to the chasing pack.
The two sides currently occupy second and third positions on the standings and will meet again in the semi-finals of the competition should they remain in those spots at the end of the group phase.
There is still plenty of cricket to be played before the start of the semis and this looms as a pivotal en-counter to the make-up of the top four with the winner one step closer to a spot in the knockout stages.
Interestingly enough, the two teams have not met in an ODI since the most recent world cup in Eng-land and Wales in 2019 and on that occasion it was the Kiwis that prevailed in a thriller on the back of a magnificent century by skipper Kane Williamson.
Williamson is in contention to return from his thumb injury to take on the Proteas although the news isn’t as good for Lockie Ferguson, with the pace spearhead set to be sidelined with an Achilles concern. Mark Chapman (calf) also remains in doubt.
South Africa have no fresh injury worries, with right-arm quick Kagiso Rabada to be monitored prior to the clash after he missed the Proteas’ recent match against Pakistan with a back problem.
For New Zealand the underrated left-armer Mitch Santner continues to go about his business with a minimum of fuss, there’s no doubt the Kiwi spinner remains one of the most dangerous bowlers at the World Cup.
Santner has 14 wickets at the tournament so far, with his best performance coming against the Neth-erlands in Hyderabad when the 31-year-old picked up a five-wicket haul.
While expensive when taking 2/80 during New Zealand’s most recent encounter against rivals Austral-ia, it must be noted that Santner is often used by his captain to try and break a healthy partnership.
The Proteas will be wary of Santner’s guile with the ball as underestimating it often leads to failure.
On the other hand, Quinton de Kock has been in fine touch for the Proteas at the World Cup, having already amassed three centuries and a tournament-best 431 runs.
De Kock’s finest effort came against Bangladesh where the 30-year-old plundered a massive knock of 174 and the Kiwis will be hoping to see the back of the skilled opener very early in the South Africa in-nings.
While South Africa have many talented batters within their top six, it is de Kock that holds that batting group together and when he scores well it usually means the team performs admirably too.
Squads
New Zealand squad: Kane Williamson (c), Trent Boult, Mark Chapman, Devon Conway, Lockie Fergu-son, Matt Henry, Tom Latham, Daryl Mitchell, Jimmy Neesham, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, Mitch Santner, Ish Sodhi, Tim Southee, Will Young.
South Africa squad: Temba Bavuma (c), Gerald Coetzee, Quinton de Kock, Reeza Hendricks, Marco Jansen, Heinrich Klaasen, Keshav Maharaj, Aiden Markram, David Miller, Lungi Ngidi, Andile Pheh-lukwayo, Kagiso Rabada, Tabraiz Shamsi, Rassie van der Dussen, Lizaad Williams.
