By: Aditya Ahuja
South Africa has maintained its momentum in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023, moving closer to the semifinals with a hammering 190-run win against New Zealand at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium (MCA) in Pune.
New Zealand’s stand-in skipper, Tom Latham, won the toss and decided to field first.
The South African openers started cautiously but gradually increased their net run rate through their innings. After losing skipper Temba Bavuma for 24, Quinton de Kock and van der Dussen built a solid partnership, amassing 200 runs off 189 balls for the second wicket.
Wicket-keeper-batsman De Kock became only the third batter, following Kumar Sangakkara and Rohit Sharma, to score four centuries in a single World Cup, eventually departing after scoring 114 off 116. Van der Dussen continued his fine form, achieving his sixth ODI hundred with a brilliant 133 off 118 balls before falling in the 48th over. Miller and Klaasen then took over the finishing job, concluding with a six off the last ball from Markram.
Chasing the mammoth target of 358, New Zealand faced an early setback as Devon Conway was dismissed by Jansen in the third over. Will Young and Ravindra attempted to accelerate, but Jansen struck again in the ninth over to dismiss Ravindra.
The Blackcaps eventually collapsed to 90-5 within 19 overs. Glenn Phillips was the only batter to provide some resistance with his 60 runs off 50 balls. However, South Africa’s bowlers did not relent, ultimately dismissing New Zealand for 167 in 35.3 overs.
South Africa’s massive victory handed New Zealand their joint fourth-heaviest defeat in ODIs, as they thrashed the 2019 World Cup finalists by a staggering 190 runs.
With this win, South Africa climbed to the top of the table, making their place in the semi-finals almost certain.
Final scores: South Africa 357-4 (50.0) | New Zealand 167 all-out (35.3)
