In their ODI World Cup 2023 encounter, South Africa crushed New Zealand by 190 runs on Wednesday.
Quinton de Kock and Rassie Van der Dussen, whose brilliant hundreds ensured a 190-run thumping of New Zealand in the World Cup in Pune on Wednesday, restored cricket’s reputation in South Africa during the country’s euphoric success in rugby. Van van Dussen scorched to a 118-ball 133 as South Africa amassed an overwhelming 357 for four after being ordered to bat first. De Kock (114 off 116 balls) hit his fourth century of the tournament to tie with Kumar Sangakkara, who accomplished the feat in the 2015 edition.
In 35.3 overs, New Zealand was dismissed for 167 runs.
Only three batters have ever scored four or more hundreds in a single World Cup.
After the victory, the Proteas have overtaken India at the top of the points table. Despite playing one fewer game than India, both have 12 points.
Four days after the entire nation was celebrating the rugby team’s record-breaking fourth World Cup victory in Paris, when the Springboks defeated their fiercest rivals, the All Blacks of New Zealand, David Miller struck for 53 in 30 balls to strike the deciding blow.
With just 45 runs scored, New Zealand’s response was poor as they lost their two most effective hitters, Devon Conway and Rachin Ravindra.
With the new ball, Marco Jansen (3/31) delivered the opening blow, forcing the dangerous Conway (2) to edge a ball to Aiden Markram at second slip.
The second breakthrough for South Africa came from Jansen once more, who dismissed the highly effective Ravindra (9), who attempted a pull shot but instead top-edged it, putting the Proteas ahead.
Will Young poked at a short-of-a-length delivery outside off to give De Kock a legal catch, and Gerald Coetzee struck with his third delivery of the period, leaving the Kiwis reeling at 56 for three in the eleventh over.
After the batter went for his shot too soon, Kagiso Rabada sent back captain Tom Latham, making it 67 for four. It was a pretty tame dismissal.
With plenty of overs left, it was only a matter of time until the New Zealand innings collapsed.
Keshav Maharaj (4/46), a left-arm spinner, bowled James Neesham with a turner that would have made the late Shane Warne happy.
Glenn Phillips’ 60 off 50 balls postponed the inevitable.
At the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium, when the in-form De Kock and captain Temba Bavuma stepped out to bat, the stands were just halfway filled, and New Zealand’s stand-in captain Latham decided to bowl first, taking dew into consideration.
Dew, however, had no effect because South Africa was simply too strong for their opponents, who lost for the third time in seven games. It was the Proteas’ sixth victory in as many games, and the victory margin greatly improved their net run rate.
The South Africans had the ideal pair in De Kock and Van der Dussen to set the tone following Bavuma’s(24) dismissal, and they accomplished just that with a 200-run partnership in just over 30 overs.
Riding a wave of good fortune after hitting a ball that landed in a no-man’s-land, De Kock challenged Mitchell Santner outside and lofted the seasoned left-arm spinner over the long-on boundary with a six.
Van der Dussen also joined in on the fun and appeared relaxed as he added runs.
The Kiwis had to contend with two set batters in addition to player injuries, which was the last thing a team that was already dealing with major player injuries before the World Cup needed.
Jimmy Nesham experienced a few injury problems following the treatment of Matt Henry’s right hamstring injury.
Van der Dussen, meantime, was also fortunate as he experienced several breaks while approaching his century.
Firstly, De Kock celebrated his hundredth birthday by hitting Neesham for a maximum off the onside. Van der Dussen reached his tonne with a four shortly after.
Batting on 104 from 105 balls, Van van Dussen changed gears and hit two successive sixes into Neesham. Trent Boult was responsible for the first six, which came about because he tried to catch the ball and accidentally tipped over the ropes.
Van der Dussen then hauled Tim Southee for a long-on maximum. De Kock and Van der Dussen accomplished enough for South Africa to set a target of 350 by the time they were fired.
Miller then turned in a couple of huge hits to help them finish strong.
