CWC 2019: NZ vs SA Review – Williamson steals the show in last-over thriller
With seven runs needed off five balls, New Zealand captain Kane Williamson slog swept Andile Phehlukwayo over deep midwicket to register a six. By his reaction, you would not have guessed that he had also brought up his century with that shot. He caressed the next ball through the off-side and clinched a breathtaking four-wicket win for the Blackcaps. The unbeaten team is now at the top of the 2019 World Cup points table.
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The first match of the tournament at Edgbaston, Birmingham presented a tricky wicket which was slightly two-paced. The overnight rain caused a delay in the proceedings and the match was reduced to 49 overs per side. The action boiled down to the last over even when the target set was only 242 runs.
Williamson runs out of partners
New Zealand’s chase did not begin on the right note. Opener Colin Munro returned an easy catch to the bowler, Kagiso Rabada, in the third over. Martin Guptill stepped on his wicket after stabilising himself at the crease. Ross Taylor was strangled down the leg side. The flurry of wickets left Williamson at the crease running out of partners.
Grandhomme’s grand knock
James Neesham was the first ray of hope for Williamson. From 80/4, the pair rescued the team to 137/5. Morris accounted for Neesham but that brought Colin de Grandhomme at the crease. The all-rounder was positive from the outset and quickly chopped off runs from the target. His knock of 60 from 47 balls took the team closer to the win and Williamson later sealed it in a spectacular fashion.
South Africa’s miserable campaign continues
The loss will hit South Africa hard. From six matches so far, they have only one win and their chances of finishing in the top four are bleak. Today, desperate South Africans dropped catches, missed run outs, misfielded, failed to detect an outside edge and bowled no-balls to allow regular escapes to the Blackcaps. From the start of the game, they were on the backfoot.
South Africa fail to take-off
Batting first, South Africa needed an attacking start. Eyes were on Amla who gathered confidence in the last match. His opening partner Quinton de Kock and captain Faf du Plessis were clean bowled by New Zealand pacers. Amla then steadied the ship with Aiden Markram. Although the pair allowed no further damage, the bowling side held the upper hand by stopping the run-flow. When the senior batsman departed, South Africa found themselves struggling at 111/3 in 27.4 overs.
Van der Dussen and Miller inject life into the innings
The pair of Rassie van der Dussen and David Miller had to consolidate after the team lost its set batsmen quickly. Till 43rd over, the duo of Dussen-Miller operated calmly and then changed gears as the death overs approached. Miller (36 runs from 37 balls) led the initial attack and Dussen (67 runs from 64 balls) took over from him after Miller’s departure. The Proteas collected 54 runs from their last nine overs and finished with 241 runs on the board, 15-20 runs short of the expected par total. Lockie Ferguson was the pick of the New Zealand bowlers with a three-wicket haul.
