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World Cup: South Africa rout Kiwis; close in on semis

Source: PTI
Last updated on: November 01, 2023 21:49 IST
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IMAGE: Marco Jansen celebrates a wicket during the World Cup match against New Zealand. Photograph: Cricket South Africa/X

Quinton de Kock and Rassie Van der Dussen brought cricket back to prominence in South Africa amid the euphoria over the country's epic triumph in rugby, their scintillating hundreds ensuring a 190-run hammering of New Zealand in the World Cup in Pune on Wednesday.

 

De Kock continued his dream run with the bat as he smashed 114 off 116 balls -- his fourth hundred of the tournament to go level with Kumar Sangakkara, who achieved the feat in 2015 edition, while Van der Dussen blazed away to a 118-ball 133.

In reply, New Zealand were bowled out for 167 in 35.3 overs.

South Africa are top of the standings with six wins from seven matches ahead of India on the net run rate, while New Zealand are fourth with eight points after suffering their third defeat in a row.

So far, only three batters have scored four or more centuries in a single edition of World Cup.

IMAGE: Quinton de Kock celebrates his fourth century in World Cup 2023. Photograph: Cricket South Africa/X

David Miller blasted 53 in 30 balls to provide the final flourish four days after the whole country was basking in the rugby team's record fourth World Cup triumph in Paris where the Springboks beat New Zealand's All Blacks, their biggest rivals in the sport.

New Zealand's reply was horrendous as they lost their in-form batters Devon Conway and Rachin Ravindra with just 45 runs on the board.

Marco Jansen (3/31) struck the first blow with the new ball, getting the dangerous Conway (2) to edge one to Aiden Markram at second slip.

It was Jansen again who gave South Africa the second breakthrough as he dismissed the in-form Ravindra (9), who went for a pull shot but ended up top-edging it, putting the Proteas on top.

IMAGE: Marco Jansen celebrates a wicket during the World Cup match against New Zealand. Photograph: Cricket South Africa/X

Gerald Coetzee struck with his third delivery of the spell as Will Young poked at a short-of-a-length delivery outside off to give De Kock a regulation catch and leave the Kiwis reeling at 56/3 in the 11th over.

It became 67/4 when Kagiso Rabada sent back skipper Tom Latham in a rather soft dismissal after the batter went for his shot too early.

From there, it was a matter of time before the New Zealand innings folded with plenty of overs remaining.

Meanwhile, left-arm spinner Keshav Maharaj (4/46) bowled James Neesham with a turner that would make the late Shane Warne proud.

Glenn Phillips saved the Kiwis the blushes as he smashed 60 from 50 balls to help get them past 150.

Earlier, taking dew into account, New Zealand's stand-in skipper 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.

However, dew was not a factor as South Africa proved to be too good for their opponents who suffered their third defeat of the tournament in seven outings. For the Proteas, it was their sixth win in seven matches, the margin of victory doing their net run rate a world of good.

After Bavuma's (24) 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.

IMAGE: Rassie Van der Dussen celebrates after completing his century. Photograph: Cricket South Africa/X

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.

IMAGE: Quinton de Kock on the attack. Photograph: Cricket South Africa/X

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 before he carted Tim Southee for another maximum over long-on.

By the time De Kock and Van der Dussen were dismissed, they had done enough to keep South Africa on course for a total around 350.

Miller produced a few big hits to prop them up towards the end.

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