After huffing and puffing their way past two Super Overs to earn a win against Afghanistan, South Africa provided a demonstration of why they were so close to winning this T20 World Cup the last time around by swatting aside New Zealand at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.
After Marco Jansen’s career-best 4 for 40 kept New Zealand to 175, captain Aiden Markram effectively killed the contest inside the PowerPlay as South Africa got home with 17 balls to spare, all but securing their place in the Super Eights with this dominant show.
Ahmedabad expectedly rolled out a batting beauty in this contest of the two most favoured teams from Group D. Still, there was no premonition for the carnage Markram brought to the chase in the PowerPlay.
To the second ball of the innings, Markram rose on his toes and caressed a drive past cover for four. The South Africa captain then pierced a reinforced off-side ring with another crisp drive for four next ball before Quinton de Kock rounded out a 13-run opening over from Matt Henry with a boundary of his own.
It set the tone for South Africa’s brutal takedown of the New Zealand attack. Lockie Ferguson was greeted with a lofted drive for six by Markram before an outside edge flew away for another boundary.
Mitchell Santner switched bowlers around and Jacob Duffy was plundered for two sixes and a four as 50 came up in the third over of the chase. By the time Quinton de Kock was dismissed for a 14-ball 20, South Africa had 62 on the board. By the time the PowerPlay ended, South Africa had scored 83 and needed a little over a run-a-ball for the remainder of the contest.
Straight after the PowerPlay, Markram completed a 19-ball half-century, the fastest by any South African batter in T20 World Cups.
The rest of the chase had a processional tempo to it before David Miller emphatically pulled a six to close out the game with his captain unbeaten on a 44-ball 86 at the other end.
New Zealand were always in trouble once they’d posted just 175 after being asked to bat first. They were five short of the psychological mark of 180, which has never been chased down in eight previous attempts at this venue. In reality, New Zealand’s score was some way short of pushing their opposition close.
Cricbuzz
