South Africa woes at the World Cup seems never ending, their humiliating loss today ensured they would have to live with the Chokers tag for another 4 years. They have made a habit of coming into the World Cup as favorites and then going back after losing from a winning position and it was no different today as they wasted an opportunity from a very promising position.
After the early loss of the openers, Jesse Ryder and Ross Taylor ensured there were no further setbacks for the New Zealanders with a healthy stand of over 100. The going was slow initially, but what was most important from the Kiwis' point of view was that they did not lose further wickets. The duo batted for 25 overs putting on 114 runs to take NZ to a good position at 130/2 in the 32nd over.
The fall of Rossco, against the run of play, to the increasingly impressive Imran Tahir for 43 opened the floodgates for the Proteas. With a solid platform set by the right hand-left hand duo and New Zealand batting deep, SA's best chance to restrict the Kiwis was to pick up wickets as quickly as possible. The bowlers ensured just that for South Africa. From a solid 130/2, New Zealand had slumped to 156/5. From a position of strength in the 32nd over, NZ had slipped to damage control in the space of 36 balls.
Earlier, South Africa had opened the bowling with left-arm spinner Robin Peterson and soon rewarded through the wicket of Brendon McCullum (4). His new ball partner, Dale Steyn dismissed the struggling Martin Guptill for one soon after.
Ryder smashed six fours en route to completing his fifty with a single off Kallis. His well paced innings ended when Colin Ingram took a catch at deep mid-wicket off Morkel with more than 11 overs to go.
Morkel took three late wickets to finish with three for 46 while Kane Williamson helped NZ end with a defendable total on the board with a fine innings of 38. The young right hander made the most of his good memories at the ground when he got to a hundred against Bangladesh.
South Africa were setback early, chasing the sub par total in the very first over in bizarre fashion. Hashim Amla chopped a ball straight onto Brendon McCullum's boot and the ball popped up for Daniel Vettori to complete an easy catch. Graeme Smith and Jacques Kallis consolidated the innings with a steady stand 61 and with the likes of AB de Villiers and the in-form JP Duminy to follow it looked like South Africa would canter to victory.
Smith's wicket came against the run of play to give Jacob Oram his first wicket. Kallis nearing his fifty went for a pull that was brilliantly snapped up by Oram. Kallis' wicket turned out to be the moment that turned the match in New Zealand's favour.
Duminy departed after adding 13 with de Villiers while their main man, who was also on wicket-keeping duties today, was run out thanks to a sharp piece of work by Martin Guptill. Johan Botha and Robin Peterson were out in quick succession as whispers of SA and their now-famous-act of choking started doing the rounds.
Faf du Plessis was South Africa's last hope and he kept the Proteas in the hunt till he was out for 36 to hand NZ the match.
Oram ended the match with 4 wickets and 2 superb catches.
Man of the Match: Jacob Oram
After the early loss of the openers, Jesse Ryder and Ross Taylor ensured there were no further setbacks for the New Zealanders with a healthy stand of over 100. The going was slow initially, but what was most important from the Kiwis' point of view was that they did not lose further wickets. The duo batted for 25 overs putting on 114 runs to take NZ to a good position at 130/2 in the 32nd over.The fall of Rossco, against the run of play, to the increasingly impressive Imran Tahir for 43 opened the floodgates for the Proteas. With a solid platform set by the right hand-left hand duo and New Zealand batting deep, SA's best chance to restrict the Kiwis was to pick up wickets as quickly as possible. The bowlers ensured just that for South Africa. From a solid 130/2, New Zealand had slumped to 156/5. From a position of strength in the 32nd over, NZ had slipped to damage control in the space of 36 balls.
Earlier, South Africa had opened the bowling with left-arm spinner Robin Peterson and soon rewarded through the wicket of Brendon McCullum (4). His new ball partner, Dale Steyn dismissed the struggling Martin Guptill for one soon after.
Ryder smashed six fours en route to completing his fifty with a single off Kallis. His well paced innings ended when Colin Ingram took a catch at deep mid-wicket off Morkel with more than 11 overs to go.
Morkel took three late wickets to finish with three for 46 while Kane Williamson helped NZ end with a defendable total on the board with a fine innings of 38. The young right hander made the most of his good memories at the ground when he got to a hundred against Bangladesh.
South Africa were setback early, chasing the sub par total in the very first over in bizarre fashion. Hashim Amla chopped a ball straight onto Brendon McCullum's boot and the ball popped up for Daniel Vettori to complete an easy catch. Graeme Smith and Jacques Kallis consolidated the innings with a steady stand 61 and with the likes of AB de Villiers and the in-form JP Duminy to follow it looked like South Africa would canter to victory.Smith's wicket came against the run of play to give Jacob Oram his first wicket. Kallis nearing his fifty went for a pull that was brilliantly snapped up by Oram. Kallis' wicket turned out to be the moment that turned the match in New Zealand's favour.
Duminy departed after adding 13 with de Villiers while their main man, who was also on wicket-keeping duties today, was run out thanks to a sharp piece of work by Martin Guptill. Johan Botha and Robin Peterson were out in quick succession as whispers of SA and their now-famous-act of choking started doing the rounds.
Faf du Plessis was South Africa's last hope and he kept the Proteas in the hunt till he was out for 36 to hand NZ the match.
Oram ended the match with 4 wickets and 2 superb catches.
Man of the Match: Jacob Oram
Thanks Buddy. I was searching for these stats! :)
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