ICC Cricket World Cup 2015: New Zealand vs South Africa in past World Cup matches
ICC Cricket World Cup 2015: New Zealand vs South Africa in past World Cup matches
The matches are more intense when New Zealand and South Africa clash with the oval ball. The rugby contest between the All Blacks and Spingboks make a spectacle. Legendary South African rugby player, Boy Louw, once said, “When South Africa plays New Zealand, consider your country at war.” Who can forget the Rugby World Cup final contest on 1995, Nelson Mandela’s role in it, which even inspired the movie, Invictus.
The cricket contests have been of lesser intensity but mark the words, when Brendon McCullum’s Blackcaps clash with AB de Villiers’ South Africa, it’s going to be no less than a war. And on this occasion Auckland’s Eden Park will be the coliseum. It’s the ICC Cricket World Cup semi-final and both the sides have never ever made it beyond. While New Zealand, who have been the most dominant side in the tournament, will look to break the six World Cup semi-final jinx, South Africa will hope the ‘choke’ word doesn’t return to haunt them. The two have had some great World Cup contests in the past
Suvajit Mustafi lists out the past World Cup matches between both the sides.
1. World Cup 1992- Eden Park, Auckland | League match
It was South Africa’s return to Auckland for international cricket after a gap of 28 years and it ended in disappointment. Earlier, in the tournament opener New Zealand had already beaten Australia at the same venue and what helped them was the slow wicket.
This time it was South Africa’s turn to play in the difficult wicket. Opening bowler and off-spinner Dipak Patel bowled his first seven overs for only 13. Wickets kept falling but Peter Kirsten stood steady and his fine 90 guided South Africa to 190, which wasn’t going to be enough against a New Zealand side, who were at the top of their game.
The Kiwi openers took the game away from the opposition and by the end of 15 overs; they had already put up 103 on the board. Mark Greatbatch smacked 68 from only 60 balls and he was well supported by Rod Latham who got an attacking 60. New Zealand completed their chase comfortably in the 35th over.
Both the sides were later unluckily knocked out in the semi-final. While South Africa were done by the controversial rain-rule against England, the Kiwis who had till then played the best cricket in the competition, lost the semis against an Inzamam-ul-Haq inspired Pakistan side. Twenty-three years later, the sides square off for the World semi-final at the same venue where they first met in the World Cup. Brendon McCullum’s men will desperately look forward to replicate the Eden Park performance of 1992.
Brief scores:
South Africa 190 for 7 in 50 overs (Peter Kirsten 90, Brian McMillan 33*; Willie Watson 2-30, Chris Cairns 2-43) lost to New Zealand 191 for 3 in 34.3 overs (Mark Greatbatch 68, Rod Latham 60, Andrew Jones 34*) – by seven wickets
2. World Cup 1996 – Faisalabad | Group match
It was a pretty good pitch to bat on and South Africa proved it by cruising to a comfortable victory. The then South African coach Bob Woolmer had described the victory as “close to awesome – the best since I’ve been in charge.”
New Zealand were restricted to 177, thanks to some very good bowling and fabulous fielding. The chase was completed in the 38th over and was led by skipper Hansie Cronje, who went ballistic with the bat, smacking 78 from only 64 balls. However in this edition, both the sides couldn’t progress beyond the quarter-final stage. South Africa, who had won all their group matches were defeated by West Indies in a knock-out match, while New Zealand were beaten by Australia.
Brief scores:
New Zealand 177 for 9 in 50 overs (Stephen Fleming 33, Lee Germon 31*; Allan Donald 3-34) lost to South Africa 178 for 3 in 37.3 overs (Gary Kirsten 35, Hansie Cronje 78; Nathan Astle 2-10) – by five wickets
3. World Cup 1999 – Birmingham | Super Six
South Africa were playing some phenomenal cricket then and they entered the contest as favourites. Electing to bat, South Africa couldn’t have done better. The openers – Gary Kirsten and Herschelle Gibbs added 176 at the top and the finishing touches were provided by all-rounder Jacques Kallis with a 36 ball-53 and skipper Hansie Cronje, who blasted 39 from just 22 balls.
Chasing 288 wasn’t going to be easy but the South African bowlers not only stifled the runs, but picked wickets at regular intervals. They restricted the Kiwis to only 213. Both the sides later qualified for the semi-finals. While Kiwis were knocked-out by a dominant Pakistan side, while South Africa had to go out after the infamous tie against Australia.
Brief scores:
South Africa 287 for 5 in 50 overs (Gary Kirsten 82, Herschelle Gibbs 91, Jacques Kallis 53*, Hansie Cronje 39) bt New Zealand 213 for 8 in 50 overs (Stephen Fleming 42, Roger Twose 35; Jacques Kallis 2-15, Lance Klusener 2-46, Hansie Cronje 2-37) – by 74 runs
4. World Cup 2003 – Johannesburg | Group stage
It was a must win match for the Kiwis and playing a game of such importance, the hosts South Africa must have been the last opponent in their mind. New Zealand had just won once in their previous 18 encounters and their skipper Stephen Fleming form wasn’t helping the side either.
To make things worse, Herschelle Gibbs’ 143 helped South Africa put up 306. Rain interruptions led to revised targets and Fleming opening the innings went on to play the best knock of his career. He timed everything to perfection and the bowler’s reputation didn’t matter at all. The deliveries on the on-side were dealt severely with clips through mid-wicket and on off there were booming drives and heaves over point.
The South African bowling attack, which comprised Shaun Pollock, Allan Donald, Mahkaya Ntini, Jacques Kallis and Klusener, was deposited all around the New Wanderers Stadium, as Fleming probably played the best knock of the World Cup and led his side to a memorable win.
Brief Scores:
South Africa 306 for 6 in 50 overs (Herschelle Gibbs 143, Lance Klusener 33*; Jacob Oram 2-52) lost to New Zealand 229 for 1 in 36.5 overs (Stephen Fleming 134*, Nathan Astle 54*) – by nine wickets (D/L method)
5. World Cup 2007 – St Georges | Super Eights
The match was much closer than the scorecard suggests. New Zealand restricted South Africa to just 193 but the Proteas bowlers weren’t giving the Kiwis any easy runs. The wicket wasn’t great to bat on with the ball stopping on occasionally.
In a match filled with tension, the New Zealand batsmen crawled their way to victory, which earned them a spot in the semi-finals. Once again, both the sides ended their campaign at the semi-final stage. While South Africa lost to Australia, New Zealand were comprehensively defeated by Sri Lanka.
Brief scores:
South Africa 193 for 7 in 50 overs (Herschelle Gibbs 60, Ashwell Prince 37; Shane Bond 2-26, Craig McMillan 3-23) lost to New Zealand 196 for 5 in 48.2 overs (Stephen Fleming 50, Scott Styris 56, Craig McMillan 38*; Andre Nel 2-33) – by five wickets
6. World Cup 2011 – Mirpur | Quarter-final
Before the tournament and during it, the South African side made it pretty clear that they considered the ‘choke’ word pretty offensive. But was the association far off? South Africa were definitely the stronger of two sides and favourites to win this clash and when they were 108 for two in 24 overs, chasing 222, not even the most optimist of Kiwi supporters thought that the Proteans would lose from there.
Till then, South Africa had never won a World Cup knockout match and they went on to live up to that record. They pressed the panic button and went in a self destructive mode and got bowled out for 172 in the 44th over. The chief demolishers for the Kiwis were off-spinner Nathan McCullum and Jacob Oram, who picked up three and four wickets respectively.
In the 2015 edition, for both the sides, more than half the side is same from this contest. Having won their first ever World Cup knock-out match in the match prior at SCG, South Africa will hope to end their association with the dreaded ‘c’ word.
Brief scores:
New Zealand 221 for 8 in 50 overs (Jesse Ryder 83, Ross Taylor 43, Kane Williamson 38*; Dale Steyn 2-42, Morne Morkel 3-46, Imran Tahir 2-32) bt South Africa 172 in 43.2 overs (Jacques Kallis 47, AB de Villiers 35, Faf du Plessis 36; Nathan McCullum 3-24, Jacob Oram 4-39) – by 49 runs
Head-to-head (Overall)
Played: 61 NZ: 20 SA: 36
Most Runs: Jacques Kallis (SA) Runs: 1449 (45 ODIs) Average: 40.3
Most Wickets: Shaun Pollock (SA) Wickets: 48 (43 ODIs) Average: 27.3
Head-to-head (In World Cups)
Played: 6 NZ: 4 SA: 2
Most Runs: Herschelle Gibbs (SA) Runs: 294 (3 ODIs) Average: 98.0
Most Wickets: Jacob Oram (NZ) Wickets: 6 (3 ODIs) Average: 19.0
(Suvajit Mustafi consumes cricket for lunch, fiction for dinner and munches numerous other snacks throughout the day. Yes, jack of several trades, all Suvajit dreamt of was being India’s World Cup winning skipper but ended up being a sports writer, author, screenwriter, director, copywriter, graphic designer, sports marketer, strategist, entrepreneur, philosopher and traveller. Donning so many hats, it’s cricket which gives him the ultimate high and where he finds solace. He can be followed at @RibsGully and rivu7)