Will 357 be enough against New Zealand, who nearly chased 388 in their last match? It was a question well answered by South Africa, who romped to a victory by 190 runs in Pune. With this win, their fourth on the bounce, Temba Bavuma’s side moved to 12 points from 7 games and have one foot firmly in the semi-final of ICC World Cup 2023.
It were the hundreds from Quinton de Kock and Rassie van der Dussen that set South Africa up for a very good total, only for the bowlers to pick up the threads later and bowl New Zealand out for 167 in 35.3 overs. Marco Janesh finished with four wickets whereas Keshav Maharaj chipped in with three.
It was the biggest win for South Africa against New Zealand in ODIs, and also the fifth-heaviest ODI defeat for the Black Caps.
The run-chase under lights was always going to be tricky, and so it proved. Marco Jansen struck twice in his opening spell, troubling the batters with his extra bounce on the Pune surface. Devon Conway first fell, edging behind, before Rachin Ravindra was bounced out at fine leg. The 23-year-old became Jansen’s 12th wicket in the first PowerPlay at this World Cup, the most by any bowler.
By the time Kagiso Rabada was into the attack in the 10th over, New Zealand were already behind the eight-ball at 45/2. Gerald Coetzee, replacing Jansen from his end, picked the wicket of Will Young in his first over and then Rabada followed up on the other side of the drinks break, getting the ball to hold a little and having Tom Latham caught at cover.
This was around the time when Keshav Maharaj took over and struck with his third delivery, having Daryl Mitchell caught at long-off. Mitchell Santner was bowled next,just like Jimmy Neesham later, 110/8. In the middle of all this, Janse returned for a fresh spell and accounted for Tim Southee lbw.
Glenn Phillips entertained during his knock of 60 off 50 but his end brought about an end to the innings, during which New Zealand never looked like chasing the target.
After losing the toss earlier in the day, South Africa came up against one of Trent Boult’s better spells with the new ball in this World Cup and lost the wicket of Temba Bavuma in the process. The South Africa captain looked comfortable against Matt Henry, hitting a couple of crisp drives and a six against the pacer, but couldn’t get behind a cover drive against Boult and edged to slip instead.
That’s when van der Dussen joined de Kock in the middle, the duo going on to add 200 runs for the second wicket – the highest partnership for South Africa against New Zealand in ODIs for any wicket. While at it, de Kock brought up his fourth hundred in this World Cup edition, also his 21st overall in ODIs.
It wasn’t the most fluent knock from de Kock who survived a tough dropped catch by Glenn Phillips at backward point while on 12. But he still got to his hundred off 103 balls and looked increasingly in control of his batting out there. His partner at the crease, van der Dussen through rode his fair share of luck en route to his second hundred in this World Cup, and his sixth overall in the format.
Van der Dussen was dropped twice in the same Jimmy Neesham over when he was on 68 and 72, but strolled along thereafter to bring up his hundred off 101 balls. He was bowled by Tim Southee on 133 in the 18th over but his 118-ball knock helped provide South Africa the much needed final flourish.
Thanks to de Kock and van der Dussen, South Africa scored as many as 190 runs in the second PowerPlay (11-40 overs), setting base for the big hits in the death overs. And they arrived from van der Dussen himself alongside David Miller, who hit 2 fours and 4 sixes in his 30-ball 53. It took a brilliant catch from Daryl Mitchell in the deep to dismiss him in the final over.
South Africa ended up adding 119 runs in the final ten overs and what made matters more challenging for New Zealand was the unavailability of Matt Henry. The fast bowler hurt his right hamstring in his second spell and was confirmed to not return to bowl again in this game.
It was the eighth consecutive time South Africa went past the 300-run mark while batting first this year. In the end, it translated into their 10th win in 11 games while batting first this year.
Brief Scores: South Africa 357/4 in 50 overs (van der Dussen 133, de Kock 114; Southee 2-77) beat New Zealand 167 in 35.3 overs (Phillips 60; Maharaj 4-46, Jansen 3-31) by 190 runs
