ICC World Cup Match 24 Played at Birminham on June 19, 2019
New Zealand Vs South Africa
Brief Score Card:
New Zealand 245/6 in 48.3 overs ( KS Williamson 106*, C de Grandhomme 60, M J Guptil 35 , JDS Nisham 23 , CH Morris 3/40, Imran Tahir 0/33 ) beat South Africa 241/6 in 49 overs Max (Vander Dussen 67*, HM Amla 55, AK Markram 38, DA Miller 36, LH Ferguson 3/59) by 4 wickets.
DHAKA: In a nail biting, hair raising photo finish, cool like cucumber Captain Williamson guided his ship anchoring safely to shore against perpetual chokers South Africa . Scoring 245/6 New Zealand won a photo finish by 4 wickets with three balls to spare.Chokers Protean missing three opportunities in the action packed last over of the spell of Imran Tahir ( Miller failed to reach catches twice and Quinton de Kock not appealing for a caught behind) signed their death sentence from World Cup 2019 . Unbeaten so far New Zealand with 9 points from 5 matches leading the points table has almost assured a place among top four.
Rain almost threatened the match. Heavy rain over night kept the outfield soggy. Even sun took dry to dry forcing a late start.
The match was restricted to 49 overs maximum. True the wicket was slow and was gripping. Yet South Africans lacked intent. Q de Kock perished early to Boult. Prolific Amla looked struggling, neither could du Plessis inject urgency. This pair put on 50 for the 2nd wicket in 12.3 overs. But South Africans really bogged down to some very intelligent and accurate bowling of the Kiwis and smart fielding. Amla could not prolong his 83 balls 55 runs innings to something substantial. Only young vander Dussen (67*) not out looked enterprising. The contributions of Markram (38) and Miller (36) could lead South Africa post a below par 241/6 in allotted 49 0vers. Kiwi bowlers Fergusson 3/59, Granhomme 1/33, Santner 1/43 and Boult 1/63 strangled the Protean. In such do or die match South Africans scored at least 30 runs to less to be competitive.
South Africans had to be desperate which they did not. But New Zealand were careful and calculative. Rabada removed Munero in the third over. Two seasoned professionals Guptill and Williamson went about their business with clinical perfection knitting well 60 runs second over partnership in 12 overs before Guptill fell to Pehlukwayo scoring 35. Morris coming to the attack served two deadly blows getting Taylor and Latham out in quick succession. South African roared back into the game reducing Kiwis to 4/80 in the 19th over. But at the other end Wailliamson was looking calm and composed. Nessham gave him company for a while. But the real oxygen was provided by power hitter Grandhomme striking 5 fours and two towering effortless sixes in his 47 balls 60.
Yet South Africans kept the match alive with Imran Tahir, Ngidi and Rabada bowling some tight overs. In the last over of Tahir catches three opportunities were not grabbed. Miller otherwise a great fielder failed to reach two catches, Q de Kock caught one from behind but did not appeal. Yet the match rolled to pressure cooker situation till last over. But Wailiamson standing like the solid Rock of Gibralter shouldered his team across. His unbeaten 106 won Kiwis the match and perhaps ensured a berth to semi final. South Africans had to bowl the most expensive bowler Phehlukwayo in the last over. Williamson is too good a batsman to remain bogged down. He blasted the required runs and made the Rugby mad Kiwis smile on their cricket.
Poor South Africans sinking almost at the bottom stands no chance for recovering losing four of the 6 matches they played so far. Williamson has scored many centuries and we are sure he will score yet more. But his innings is a perfect example for the future generation how not panicking in pressure cooker situation.
With another Challenger South Africa out of contention Bangladesh need to win today to keep the dream journey going. I do not think Pakistan and Afghanistan can be an issue for Bangladesh. India may be too hot to handle.
BDST: 1052 JUN 20, 2019
SI
