South Africa have well and truly arrived at the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015. Whether or not New Zealand can chase down the 298 in 43 overs (as per the Duckworth-Lewis method) is a different matter, but AB de Villiers, Faf du Plessis, and David Miller did not merely remove the tag that read “CHOKERS,” they stomped on it, burned it, and disposed of it with maximum prejudice. READ: New Zealand vs South Africa ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 Semi-Final: SA innings highlights
Few would have backed South Africa at the start of the match, though. After winning the toss and electing to bat, Trent Boult consolidated his position at the top of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 with an opening burst that read 7-0-38-2. The way he bowled though, it deserved to be three for 30, with a couple of outside edges finding the boundary and an early chance from de Kock getting dropped behind by Luke Ronchi. Live Scorecard: New Zealand vs South Africa, ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 Semi-Final 1
Once both openers — Hashim Amla and Quinton de Kock — were back in the pavilion, Faf du Plessis dropped anchor and went on to play an innings that will long be remembered. His judgement was immaculate, leaving anything he did not have to play, and defending resolutely when needed. He managed to keep the runs coming, albeit at a slower pace. He was on 18 off 40 at one stage, and got to his 50 off 85 balls before opening up. When the rain came down to halt South Africa’s charge, he was batting fluently on 82 off 106 deliveries. Live Updates: New Zealand vs South Africa, ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 Semi-Final 1
Rilee Rossouw batted well for his 53-ball 39 before slashing one from Corey Anderson to Martin Guptill at point. His innings was an important one as it laid the platform for the man coming in next: de Villiers. The Protean captain was a bit tentative at the start, scoring his first 10 runs in 15 deliveries before opening up. He was dropped on 38, slapping one to Kane Williamson at cover only to see the ball pop out. It was a reprieve that could come back to haunt the Black Caps, as de Villiers went even more on the offensive after that. By the time rain interrupted proceedings, he had scored an unbeaten 60 off 38 balls, and was looking in ominous touch. He went past Jacques Kallis to become South Africa’s leading run-scorer in World Cups, also entering the top-five World Cup run-scorers in the process. Top 10 batsmen in ICC Cricket World Cup 2015
Unfortunately for South Africa, the rain interrupted their momentum, as the match was reduced to a 43-overs-a-side contest. The break affected du Plessis, who gloved a rank long hop from Anderson to Ronchi off the second ball after the break. David Miller walked in next, and started hitting the ball cleanly for the start. He and de Villiers put on 55 runs in no time — with Miller scoring 49 off 18 — as South Africa ended at a commanding 281 for five, leaving New Zealand a target of 298 in 43 overs by the DL method. ICC Cricket World Cup 2015: Complete Coverage
Brief scores:
South Africa 281 for 5 in 43 overs (Faf du Plessis 82, AB de Villiers 65*, David Miller 49; Trent Boult 2 for 53) vs New Zealand.
(Shiamak Unwalla, a reporter with CricketCountry, is a self-confessed Sci-Fi geek and Cricket fanatic. His Twitter handle is @ShiamakUnwalla)
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