Electric Proteas beat Kiwis by 13 runs

Tags: NZ v SA 14th Match at Kensington, May 6, 2010, ICC World T20 - 2010, New Zealand, South Africa, Graeme Craig Smith, Jacques Henry Kallis

Published on: May 10, 2010

Scorecard | Commentary | Graphs

South Africa won their Super Eights Match against the Kiwis by 13 runs.

New Zealand Innings

South Africa won their Super Eights Match against the Kiwis by 13 runs. It was not a well planned chase at all from the Kiwis, they just didn't show any urgency in the first 10 overs and made the target of 171 look very difficult to reach! Ryder looked good but not sure why he didn't take too many risks. He got out at the wrong moment scoring 33 from 28 balls (with two fours and two sixes). South Africa just kept on tightening the screws and ended up winning the match without much trouble. The Kiwis were restricted to 157 for 7 with Charl Langeveldt, Morne Morkel and Johan Botha taking two wickets each.

The South African fielding was electric with the exception of one or two blemishes. Herschelle Gibbs picked up three catches out of which two of them were breathtaking. The first one was a full length diving catch at covers to pull down a blistering drive from Brendon McCullum. The other brilliant catch was at mid wicket when Gibbs dived forward to take an uppish flick from Ross Taylor.

South Africa Innings

New Zealand bowling lacked the firepower to make most use of the perfect bowling pitch of the Kensington Oval to allow South Africa post a big total of 170 for 4. The Proteas were off to a decent start from Graeme Smith and Jacques Kallis who put on 40 for the opening wicket inside 5 overs while negating the Bond effect. Kallis made 31 from 26 balls with a four and two sixes. Herschelle Gibbs coming in at no.3 also fell in the 30s but the real consolidation and finishing came from the fourth wicket stand of 72 between AB de Villiers (47* from 39 balls with one four and two sixes) and left handed Albie Morkel (40 from 18 balls with as many as five sixes). Daniel Vettori was the most impressive of the bowlers with his variations in flight and pace conceding just 21 in 4 overs but not able to get any wickets.

The Kiwis have the batting to chase this target but the bowling of Dale Steyn and Morne Morkel will be pretty tough to handle off the pitch. Brendon McCullum and Ross Taylor will be the key batsmen for the Kiwis if they have to get past South Africa today.

Toss and Teams

South Africa have won the toss and elected to bat first in the Super Eights Match against New Zealand at the Kensington Oval in Bridgetown, Barbados. The Proteas have made two changes with Loots Bosman and Roelof van der Merwe making way for Herschelle Gibbs and off spinner Johan Botha. New Zealand have stuck with the same team that played the last game.

The team with the better pace attack is expected to win this match and that means South Africa are the favourites. But the Kiwis have Shane Bond who can do the demolition act all on his own. It should be an interesting contest with both teams decent enough to tackle the pacy and bouncy conditions at this venue. South Africa, who are batting first will be looking to get atleast 150 on the board.

New Zealand Playing XI : Brendon McCullum, Jesse Ryder, Ross Taylor, Martin Guptill, Scott Styris, Gareth Hopkins (WK), Jacob Oram, Daniel Vettori (C), Nathan McCullum, Tim Southee and Shane Bond

South Africa Playing XI : Graeme Smith (C), Herschelle Gibbs, Jacques Kallis, AB de Villiers, JP Duminy, Albie Morkel, Mark Boucher (WK), Johan Botha, Dale Steyn, Morne Morkel and Charl Langeveldt

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