ICC Cricket World Cup, 2023 |Match 32 |11/1/2023 Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium, Pune
Commentary
Right then, another highly-anticipated encounter has come to an end and South Africa have proved once again that they are real contenders for the trophy. The only team to have done better than them is the host nation India and they are in action in the next game. On Thursday, the 2nd of November India will take on Sri Lanka at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai in the repeat clash of the 2011 World Cup Final at the very same ground. That game will begin at 2 pm IST (8.30 am GMT) but you can tune in to our build-up a lot sooner. Do join us then. Till then, take care and goodbye!
South Africa's captain, Temba Bavuma says that it was a clinical game. Mentions that they had a challenge upfront with the bat but a big partnership between Quinton de Kock and Rassie van der Dussen set it up for them. Further adds that they kept the pressure on from ball one and sustained it throughout. Shares that he and Quinton de Kock tried to assess the conditions and he was able to get a couple of boundaries away. Adds that de Kock was in his flow at the start. Shares that they tried to maximize after the 30th over. Reckons that New Zealand were going to come hard at them and they would get the opportunities. Ends by saying that they will have a look at the permutations for the semis.
Tom Latham, the captain of New Zealand says that they didn't play good cricket in this game and they were put under massive pressure when Quinton de Kock and Rassie van der Dussen were playing on the pitch. Adds that the pitch was decent to bat on. He also adds he wouldn't have batted first despite losing the match, they simply failed to score runs with the bat and neither did they restrict the opposition under 330 or 340. Says that injuries are obviously a thing to be worried about but he is not thinking about it and trying to move on with it and take positives to Bangalore.
Rassie van der Dussen is the Player of the Match for his superb century. He starts by saying that New Zealand bowled pretty well upfront. Adds that he and Quinton de Kock had to work hard. Mentions that de Kock played brilliantly and guided him and reckons that they batted together nicely. Further adds that he thought that it would be easier to bat later as the ball got softer. Shares that this wicket had something in it throughout for the bowlers. States that New Zealand kept a lid on them and he knew that he and de Kock had to take it deep. Also says that de Kock advised him to hold his shape. Says that it was tough for new guys to come in and hit through the line but David Miller and others made it look easy. Shares that the talk was that if they could set a platform, the sky is the limit. Ends by saying that he is very pleased to get the result and everyone contributed which makes him and everyone on the team happy.
The Presentation ceremony...
New Zealand have seen it all in this World Cup, the high of four successive wins and now the agony of three consecutive losses. The manner of the loss is certainly a concern but the bigger concern for them is the names that are getting added to that injury list. Being with Lockie Ferguson, skipper Tom Latham opted to chase and the bowling didn't click as they let South Africa get off to a steady start. Trent Boult was the pick of the bowlers and did pick up wickets but Matt Henry couldn't get going and once he pulled up with a hamstring, James Neesham had to cover his overs and the Kiwis conceded a lot of extra runs. Mitchell Santner was fairly economical and Tim Southee playing after an injury layoff himself did a reasonable job. It was with the bat though where they seemed really off-colour. Devon Conway seems to be on a downward slope and Will Young isn't quite able to convert his starts. They put a lot on the shoulders of young Rachin Ravindra and once Daryl Mitchell fell, that middle order crumbled under pressure. It was only Glenn Phillips who played a lone hand alongside the tail and notched up a consolation fifty and they have a lot to think about going into that potential quarterfinal against Pakistan next time around.
South Africa were asked to bat first by Tom Latham, a thing they have done really well thus far in this World Cup and had the runs on the board thanks to a couple of scintillating hundreds by Quinton de Kock and Rassie van der Dussen with their stand crossing the 200-run mark for the second time in this competition. With not a lot of overs remaining, David Miller was sent up the order and the southpaw battered the Kiwi bowlers to bring up a quick fifty and eventually took the proteas to over the 350-run mark. Having seen New Zealand almost chase down 389 runs in their last game, South Africa brought their A-game with the ball right from the word go and Marco Jansen picked up a couple of big wickets early on. The likes of Kagiso Rabada and Gerald Coetzee then came in and built on the good start by picking up a wicket each and Jansen came back in to get his third. Meanwhile, at the other end, Keshav Maharaj spun a web around the middle order and picked up four wickets himself after which the Proteas faced some stern resistance. Coetzee did manage to get the final wicket soon enough and sealed a massive 190 runs.
A sixth win of the tournament for South Africa and what a win it was! They now join India at the top of the table with six wins and have one foot in the semi-finals. The Proteas have done to the Black Caps what the Springboks did to the All Blacks in the Rugby World Cup final a few days back and that is to notch up a crucial win for South Africa against New Zealand in a big encounter. This win might not be as grand as the one in the Rugby Final but it could certainly galvanize the Proteas even further as it is their first win over the Black Caps in a World Cup since 1999 and could deal a fatal blow to the Kiwis.
35.3
W
Gerald Coetzee to Glenn Phillips, OUT! TAKEN! All over for New Zealand! Another thumping win for South Africa! Charges in from over the wicket and bowls it on a hard length, on middle and leg, Glenn Phillips gets cramped for room and tries to go downtown. The ball climbs at a steep height and he gets it off the splice of the bat towards mid on. Kagiso Rabada stationed there, has to backtrack and completes the catch near his chest. Gerald Coetzee finishes with two wickets and South Africa win by a massive margin of 190 runs!
35.2
6
Gerald Coetzee to Glenn Phillips, SIX! BANG! Glenn Phillips is playing a blinder here! Pitched right up on the off stump, Phillips gets the front leg out of the way again and hammers it away back over the bowler's head for another maximum.
35.1
0
Gerald Coetzee to Glenn Phillips, Hard length around middle, Glenn Phillips hangs deep and clears the front leg before slogging it away to deep mid-wicket. Just can't close it out here South Africa.
END OF OVER 35 | 15 Runs & 0 Wkt | NZ 161/9
34.6
0
Keshav Maharaj to Matt Henry, Flighted delivery, on off, Matt Henry prods forward and smothers the ball on the off side.
34.5
0
Keshav Maharaj to Matt Henry, Floated up, turning away, outside off, Matt Henry gets the weight on the front foot and leaves the ball alone.
34.4
1
Keshav Maharaj to Glenn Phillips, Drops it short, outside off, Glenn Phillips hangs back and cuts it hard towards deep point for a single.
34.3
4
Keshav Maharaj to Glenn Phillips, FOUR! Same region, same result and that will be FIFTY for Glenn Phillips! Tossed up again, around off, Glenn Phillips swings through the line and picks it up cleanly to get it towards wide long off for a boundary.
34.2
6
Keshav Maharaj to Glenn Phillips, SIX! Stand and deliver! Drifting into the pads, full and on middle and leg, Glenn Phillips hits this one with the angle as he smokes it into the stands towards the deep mid-wicket region for a maximum.
34.1
4
Keshav Maharaj to Glenn Phillips, FOUR! Crunched! Keshav Maharaj gives it a bit too much air, wide outside off, Glenn Phillips does not get deceived in the flight and smacks it through extra cover for a boundary.
END OF OVER 34 | 5 Runs & 0 Wkt | NZ 146/9
33.6
1
Gerald Coetzee to Glenn Phillips, Shortish delivery again, on off, Glenn Phillips allows the ball to come to him and waits to run it down to third man. Gerald Coetzee isn't pleased with his choice of delivery as a single has allowed Phillips to retain the strike.
33.5
0
Gerald Coetzee to Glenn Phillips, Well bowled! Bends his back and bangs it into the wicket, over middle, Glenn Phillips goes for the pull but the ball gets a bit big on him and it goes over his bat.
33.4
0
Gerald Coetzee to Glenn Phillips, Pitches it up now, on off, Glenn Phillips clears his front leg but hits it hard and straight to mid off.
33.3
4
Gerald Coetzee to Glenn Phillips, FOUR! Put away with ease! Back of a length with a scrambled seam, Glenn Phillips fetches it from around off and pulls it through mid-wicket for a boundary.
33.2
0
Gerald Coetzee to Glenn Phillips, Rolls his fingers over the ball and bowls it on a good length, outside off, Glenn Phillips waits for the ball to arrive but drills this one straight to the man at deep point.
33.1
0
Gerald Coetzee to Glenn Phillips, In the channel on off, on a good length, Glenn Phillips makes room to thrash this one through the covers but misses out.