Protea School Black Caps
Aiden Markram and Marco Jansen were chief destroyers as South Africa claimed an excellent seven-wicket victory over New Zealand at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Saturday evening.
The Proteas have secured their spot in the Super Eights and are expected to top their group, having overcome their toughest opponents. They will be happy with their overall performance, both with the bat and ball. Markram won the toss and elected to bowl first.
Marco Jansen (4-0-40-4) was superb as he produced career best figures whilst removing the dangerous Mark Chapman (48) in the 14th over. Earlier, Jansen claimed the first three wickets to fall as the Black Caps slipped from 33-0 in the 3rd over to 58-3 in the 6th over. Keshav Maharaj (3-0-24-1) also got in on the action as he forced Glenn Phillips (1) to drag onto his stumps with the score at 64. Chapman and Daryl Mitchell did some damage control until Jansen got the scalp of the former.
However, Mitchell (31) fell to Lungi Ngidi’s slower delivery and found the safe hands of Tristan Stubbs at Long on. Skipper Mitchell Santner (4) failed to deliver with bat, but Jimmy Neesham (23*) played a little knock that game the Kiwis a respectable total. That was also due to a great final over from Corbin Bosch that saw Neesham strike only two boundaries as the Black Caps finished on 175/7.
It was a stellar start to the run chase with South Africa reaching 51-0 after just three overs with the cool skipper straight driving sixes and flicking legside fours at will as New Zealand’s bowling attack crumbled under pressure. Quinton de Kock’s handy 20 from 14 was silent until he had to depart in the 5th over with the score at 62. Markram ensured he produced a captain’s knock, undefeated on 84, while Ryan Rickelton (21) and Dewald Brevis (21) chipped in as they cruised towards the target. The Proteas’ most senior figure, David Miller, continued his superb form. Miller (24) did not waste any time, scoring quickly and eventually struck a giant maximum over deep mid-wicket to seal the seven-wicket win with 17 balls to spare.
South Africa has now qualified for the Super Eight stage of the competition ahead of their final group match against the UAE on Wednesday.
