South Africa knock the exit doors after their defeat to New Zealand
World Cup 2019: South Africa choke for the third consecutive time against New Zealand at World Cups as Kane Williamson’s hundred inspires a thrilling win.
SOUTH AFRICA VS NEW ZEALAND SCORECARD:
New Zealand: 245-6 in 48.3 overs || Win the match by 4 wickets
Kane Williamson: 106*(138) | Colin de Grandhomme: 60(47) | Chris Morris: 3-49
South Africa: 241-6 in 49 overs
Rassie van der Dussen: 67(64) | Hashim Amla: 55(83) | Lockie Ferguson: 3-59
Player of the Match: Kane Williamson
MATCH SUMMARY:
If Chokers had an adjective, It would definitely be called ‘South Africa’.
Time and again, they keep reminding the world that they cannot win crunch situations. Be it World Cup 1999 SF against Australia, T20 World Cup 2007 qualification against India, World Cup 2011 QF against New Zealand, World Cup 2015 SF against New Zealand, or World Cup 2019 qualification match again against New Zealand.
In another must-win encounter, South Africa failed to capitalize on crunch situations as misfields, dropped catches, missed run-outs cost them yet another chance to get their hands on the World Cup trophy.
Anyway, batting first, South Africa had an ordinary batting display from a few of the bests in the business.
Mind you, Quinton de Kock, Hashim Amla, Faf du Plessis, David Miller are no ordinary players. However, they succumbed to pressure once again as they displayed an ordinary batting performance in a must-win encounter.
It was the young and inexperienced, Van der Dussen, who scored an invaluable knock of 67(64) that helped South Africa post a decent 241 on the board in 49 overs. Else, they were inching towards a dreadful total.
For New Zealand, Lockie Ferguson took 3 wickets while de Grandhomme and Matt Henry bowled brilliant economical spells.
THE CHASE:
Kane Williamson, the man for New Zealand as his brilliant unbeaten century helped New Zealand chase a thrilling encounter against South Africa at World Cup 2019.
South Africa did bowl well throughout the match, but it was their fielding that let them down. There were dropped catches, misfields, and missed run-out opportunities in the entire match. Something which you don’t expect from a top-class side.
Anyway, Kane Williamson, the main man took the responsibility of the chase on his shoulders as his unbeaten century helped New Zealand defeat South Africa by 4 wickets.
Kane, who remained not-out on 106*(138) got good support from the all-rounder, Colin de Grandhomme, who scored an attacking 60(47).
With this loss, it is almost decided that South Africa are knocked out of World Cup 2019.
WHAT WENT WRONG FOR SOUTH AFRICA?
- Key players failed to take responsibility for playing a good knock.
- Lack of a 6th bowler to compensate for the expensive Andile Phelukwayo.
- Extremely poor effort in the field. There were dropped catches, misfields, and missed run-out opportunities.
NEXT MATCH:
Match 26: AUSTRALIA VS BANGLADESH
Place: Nottingham
Date: June 20, 2019
Time: 3 pm IST
Can the defiant Bangladesh team keep their World Cup alive as they get ready to face the aggressive Australian side?.
ALSO READ: World Cup 2019: Shikhar Dhawan ruled out of the tournament due to a fractured thumb injury
Adesh Kothari is the founder of AK4Tsay1 Cricalytics.
Cricket to him is like what ‘Football is to Lionel Messi’, ‘Singing is to Lata Mangeshkar’, ‘Dancing is to Michael Jackson’, and what ‘Acting is to Clint Eastwood’.
Besides his effervescent love for Cricket, Adesh is an MBA by qualification.
