Plays of the day: Dreadful death-bowling, lack of partnerships see Proteas lose to New Zealand

New Zealand shattered South Africa’s dreams of playing in a rare ICC final with a convincing 50-run victory in the second Champions Trophy semi-final in Lahore on Wednesday. Ongama Gcwabe highlights the plays of the day...

Diagnosis

The real reason behind South Africa’s loss could be traced back to the lack of partnerships with both bat and ball. From the new-ball duo to the death overs, there were no real partnerships as the bowlers toiled. With the bat, apart from the century stand between Temba Bavuma (56) and Rassie van der Dussen (69) for the second wicket, there were no substantial contributions in tandem in a game where the side needed big partnerships to come close to the 363-run target.

Innings

The Proteas bowling attack knew beforehand that Kane Williamson, with an average of 57 against South Africa going into the second semi-final in Lahore, was the danger man. 

Having come into bat inside the first powerplay, Williamson allowed himself time to get his eye in and rotated strike consistently. Once he got in, he took risks against the ever-accurate Keshav Maharaj and the rest of the bowling attack, and smashed his third consecutive century against South Africa in ODI cricket. His ton set the Black Caps up for the match-winning 362-run total.

Ball

There is just something special about left-arm spinners clean bowling right-handed batters. It would take such a special delivery from Mitchell Santner to dismiss an in-form Rassie van der Dussen on Wednesday.

Santner delivered a perfectly flighted delivery, which drifted towards the right-handed Van der Dussen and turned away just as he looked to defend it off the front foot, clean-bowling him in the process. The Kiwi captain Santner finished with sparkling figures of 3/43 in 10 overs. 

Turning point

Having removed Van der Dussen, Santner struck soon after, removing Heinrich Klaasen cheaply to take the game further away from South Africa. Known as the best player of spin in the world, Klaasen would be deceived by the trajectory of the delivery from Santner on this occasion.

Klaasen was convinced the ball was short enough to rock back and dispatch it for a six with his favourite pull shot. However, the ball was not short enough, and all Klaasen could do was to find a diving Matt Henry down the ground to hand the Black Caps a massive wicket, pulling the game drastically in the Kiwis’ direction.

Dreadful death-bowling

When South Africa removed centurion Kane Williamson in the 40th over, the score was 251 and there would have been hope in the Proteas dug-out that the bowling unit would be able to bowl tighter, given that there were two new batters at the crease.

However, the quicks leaked 111 runs in the remaining 10.1 overs, conceding an additional 12 fours and two sixes as the Black Caps helped themselves to the freebies on their way to a mammoth 362 runs.