An all-round performance from South Africa helped them brush aside New Zealand at the MCA Stadium in Pune on Wednesday.
In what turned out to be a one-sided contest, red-hot South Africa demolished a bruised New Zealand side by 190 runs, storming to their sixth win of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 on Wednesday in Pune.
With the win, South Africa have displaced India from the top of the world cup points table on the basis of a better net run-rate despite the two sides on same number of points.
Put in to bat first, South Africa kept to their highly successful template of a measured start followed by an all-out attack in the final 10 overs that helped them to 357/4 in 50 overs at the MCA Stadium in Pune.
In response, New Zealand collapsed to be skittled for 167 in 35.3 overs.
Quinton de Kock peeled off his fourth half-century of the competition and also became the first batter of the tournament to breach the 500-run mark. He made 114 off 116.
Rassie van der Dussen was also in superb touch and top-scored with 133 off 118 before David Miller’s quickfire 53 off 30.
De Kock and Van der Dussen revelled in the knowledge that the focus back home has finally shifted from rugby to cricket, striking scintillating hundreds.
With his fourth hundred, De Kock went level with Kumar Sangakkara, who achieved the feat in 2015 edition.
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For the record, only three batters have scored four or more centuries in a single World Cup edition.
New Zealand innings was a start contrast to that of South Africa. They kept losing wickets regularly and never looked settled.
In-form opener Devon Conway was dealt with by Marco Jansen (3/31) in the third over itself and the Kiwis made a brief recovery through Will Young (33) and Rachin Ravindra (24).
However, Jansen ended the growing partnership and from that, New Zealand never recovered.
Glenn Phillips scored a half-century – 60 off 50 – towards the end to cut down the margin of defeat.
Taking dew into account, New Zealand’s stand-in skipper Tom Latham opted to bowl first at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium whose stands were half-full with some people gathered outside when the in-form De Kock and skipper Temba Bavuma walked out to bat.
After Bavuma’s dismissal, in De Kock and Van der Dussen the South Africans had the perfect duo to set the tone, and they did exactly that with a 200-run partnership in little over 30 overs.
Riding on a bit of luck with one of his shots falling in a no man’s land, De Kock stepped outside against Mitchell Santner and hoisted the seasoned left-arm spinner over the long-on boundary for a six.
Van der Dussen, too, got into the act and looked comfortable while accumulating his runs.
Dealing with two set batters was not the only challenge for the Kiwis as they also had players getting injured, the last thing for a team that was already grappling with injuries to key players heading into this match.
After Matt Henry hurt his right hamstring and received treatment, Jimmy Nesham also had some injury issues.
Luck also smiled on Van der Dussen as he got more than one reprieve on way to his century.
Meanwhile, De Kock reached his hundred in style, smashing Neesham on the onside for a maximum.
Soon, Van der Dussen got to his ton with a four.
Batting on 104 off 105 balls, Van der Dussen shifted gears and launched into Neesham for two consecutive sixes, the first one was thanks to Trent Boult tipping the ball over the ropes while trying to catch it.
Then, Van der Dussen carted Tim Southee for a maximum over long-on.
By the time De Kock and Van der Dussen were dismissed, they had done enough for South Africa to aim for 350.
Miller produced a few big hits to prop them up towards the end.
New Zealand also suffered a couple of injury blows during the contest with fast bowler Matt Henry hurting his hamstring and looked in pain when he later came to bat. Allrounder James Neesham hurt his wrist while attempting a catch off his own bowling earlier.
New Zealand have already been hampered by injuries to Kane Williamson, Lockie Ferguson and Mark Chapman.
With PTI Inputs
