Match report
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We, of course, will have that match for you, but that’s it from us for now. Our report will be in here and on-site shortly, so check back for that; we’ll also have the night’s football getting going soon. Otherwise, though, go in peace.
I, though, am already thinking about the final, and my sense is that NZ need to bat first, hope their big guns fire, and then bowl well. They won’t love what happened at the death, and my sense is India have too much firepower to be limited to the kind of total the Black Caps are likely to set or chase; or, in other words, NZ have to be near-perfect to win and even that might not be enough, whereas India can win playing a way below their best. But you never know, especially in the absence of Bumrah.
Ravindra is POTM and says it’s good to contribute to a comfortable and important win. He didn’t start as well as he’d have wanted to – ahahahaha! – crediting Ngidi and Jansen – saying the other guys he batted with helped him and if you’re going to make 100 you’ll scratch around for bit.
They were thinking about 30 but then Williamson accelerated, the finishers finished, and they wound up with more. Asked about the final, he reckons they need to soak up the moment today, chill out tonight, then get to Dubai and switch on.
There was never any serious sense this was going to be close. Though NZ didn’t get off to a good start so, at various points, the teams had similar scores, SA left themselves too much to do having failed to properly exploited the powerplays.
New Zealand beat South Africa by 50 runs and will face India in the Champions Trophy final
50th over: South Africa 312-9 (Miller 100, Ngidi 1) Target 363 He starts with a four, flayed through the off-side, but after a dot, he can only add two, a leading edge ballooning over Williamson at backward point. Somehow, fending off a slower-ball bouncer, he leaps, edges, and sees the ball scuttle away for four, then a stand-and-deliver pull, musclesd over midwicket for six, means he needs two from the final delivery for his ton. And here it comes … yes David Miller! He forces down the ground, they sprint through, and that’s a 21-ball second fifty! But it’s NZ who go through to meet India in the final.
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49th over: South Africa 294-9 (Miller 82, Ngidi 1) Target 363 Miller has such easy power and precise timing, swinging four over long-off then pulling to the fence at square-leg. I’m not sure why he was so becalmed early in his innings – this is all very nice, but had he gone earlier, who knows? I mean we all do, but still. Anyhow, another pull, they come back for a second, and O’Rourke, unaware of he’s long he’s got, collects a throw from the outfield and flicks behind him, missing the stumps when he could just have broken them. A dot follows, then a buggy-whip hook over his shoulder for a third four of the over, and a single means he retains strike with just 69 needed from the final over. Can Miller bosh his way to three figures?
48th over: South Africa 279-9 (Miller 67, Ngidi 1) Target 363 There we go! Jamieson returns, his loosener sits up, and Miller knucks six over deep square; 16 off 17 to go. But the next ball, though it’s too short and too full, only earns four, sliced through slip, then a heave into the off-side has just too much on it for the pursuing Williamson. No run, another dot … and a leaping pull for four. What a shame he didn’t come to the wicket with the match seriously in the balance.
47th over: South Africa 264-9 (Miller 52, Ngidi 1) Target 363 O’Rourke returns and, after a pull that picks out the fielder, then a swing and a miss, Miller whacks four to long-on, the bowler ducking out of the way, and that’s a half-century of, er, limited efficacy. Another pull then finds another fielder, so he stays where he is; with 100 required from 19 balls, he probably figures he’ll need to hit the sixes himself. He does not.
46th over: South Africa 259-9 (Miller 47, Ngidi 1) Target 363 i wonder if, given their time again, SA would go harder first up; I know NZ scored their runs later on, but when you’re chasing a monster, you can’t just let the powerplay go and assume you’ll sort it later on – especially against a side as canny as these.
WICKET! Rabada c Phillips b Henry 16 (South Africa 256-9)
Henry takes pace off and Rabada mows to cow – the connection is decent – but not decent enough, picking out Phillips, who of course holds.
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46th over: South Africa 256-8 (Miller 46, Rabada 16) Target 363 Miller cuts hard to the fence as cover, where Bracewell dives to save the boundary; a single to midwicket follows.
45th over: South Africa 253-8 (Miller 43, Rabada 16) Target 363 Santner slows his pace down even more and Rabada, down on one knee, slaps a sweep to the fence at deep square then, after a dot, Santner now barely releasing the ball he’s moving so deliberately, he schmeisses back over the bowler’s head for four more. Two dots complete the over and the skipper’s spell, 3-43 off 10, is over; well bowled sir, well bowled because, though the chase always looked beyond SA, it’s Santner who’s made sure of that, removing Bavuma and Van der Dussen, the two highest scorers, as well as Klaasen, the danger man.
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44th over: South Africa 245-8 (Miller 43, Rabada 8) Target 363 Ah, this isis good to see: Henry returns, his shoulder in good enough nick for him to be risked in a match that’s as good as over. Rabada takes his loosener for one, then Miller yanks to midwicket for one more; the remaining four deliveries yield three more singles, the required rate is now the year Eric was born, and NZ are going into the final.
43rd over: South Africa 240-8 (Miller 41, Rabada 5) Target 363 Yet another tremendous over from Santner, Miller taking one from it’s second delivery, Rabada one off the last to keep the strike; all that’s btween them is a wide, and the rate is now 17.57.
42nd over: South Africa 237-8 (Miller 40, Rabada 4) Target 363 Miller’s seen enough, retreating into the crease before carting Phillips from outside off into the stand at midwicket. A dot follows, then a thwack over cover for four, but with just a single from the final delivery, we have an over that yields 11 that is also off the required rate.
41st over: South Africa 226-8 (Miller 29, Rabada 4) Target 363 Santner, 3-29 off seven, returns, and cedes three singles; had Ravindra not contributed a key wicket and a catch, I might’ve been bigging him up as my POTM. Whether he can bowl like this against India’s experts remains to be seen; he’s going to have to.
40th over: South Africa 223-8 (Miller 27, Rabada 3) Target 363 Rabada misses with a flick, just, so a wide is added to the total; two singles and a two follow, and by the looks of things Miller is just going to let this match expire without throwing hands. The rate is 14.00.
WICKET! Maharaj c Latham b Phillip 1 (South Africa 218-8)
And he only needs two! A flat one, fired towards leg-stump, and looking to turn it around the corner, Maharaj gloves and Latham is right there behind him waiting for exactly this eventuality, taking a fine catch,
40th over: South Africa 218-7 (Miller 25, Maharaj 1) Target 363 Phillips continues, Miller taking a single from his first ball to give him five balls at Maharaj.
39th over: South Africa 217-7 (Miller 25, Maharaj 1) Target 363 The rate is 12.58 at the start of this over, so Miller twizzles Ravindra into the on side for two; three singles follow.
“Around the dawn of the new millennium,” begins Krishnamoorthy V, “before the abomination called T20 destroyed proper cricket, there used to be a rule of thumb: double the score you have at the end of over number 30. So, SA is almost there. But then SA are the Arsenal of cricket!”
Funny, I’d probably have had them as Spurs, presumably for similar reasons.
REVIEW! WICKET! Jansen lbw b Phillips 3 (South Africa 212-7)
Yup, Jansen misses, the ball would’ve hit leg, and he has to depart.
38th over: South Africa 212-6 (Miller 21, Jansen 3) Target 363 India in Abu Dhabi, though, pose an entirely different challenge; NZ are good enough to take it on, don’t worry about that, but need to be near-perfect to win, whereas India have more ways to force the issue. Miller hasn’t given up, however, ands when NZ introduce Phillips to the attack, he zetzes over midwicket for six after the first three balls of the over yield three singles. There’s then a short recess while the ball is retrieved – there’s a ladder involved and, when we resume it’s not clear if we’re using the original one or a replacement. Anyroad, Jansen then misses with a sweep, ther ball hits thepad, and when the umpire turns down the appeal, we go upstairs….
37th over: South Africa 202-6 (Miller 13, Jansen 1) Target 363 I said at the start that I didn’t expect SA to get close, but I imagined them trying to start like billy-o and losing wickets, not staying in the game then swiftly expiring. We must, though credit NZ, whose spinners have bowled well, Ravindra easing through another over for the cost of two; he’s now 1-15 off four, a lovely boy with good hair having the time of his life – to our collective joy.
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WICKET! Mulder c Ravindra b Bracewell 8 (South Africa 200-6)
Bracewell gives one a bit of air and Mulder has no choice but to attack, heaving a pull to the man at deep square. If it was already over before, it’s absolutely over now.
36th over: South Africa 200-5 (Miller 12, Mulder 8) Target 363 The required rate is 11.33 as Bracewell ambles in again; meantime, we see footage of Markram remonstrating his dismissal with some handily located kit. Where theres Miller, though, there’s a modicum of hope, and as I type he laps a reverse-sweep for four; two singles follow.
35th over: South Africa 194-5 (Miller 11, Mulder 3) Target 363 We watching Ravindra’s last over and he sent down five balls in similar area, then tried a drag-down, and that was what forced the error from Markram, who’ll be steaming he got out to that, from him. And the man of the moment is at it again, ceding two to Muldder from his second ball via drive to cover, responding with four dots, the last of them a beauty, straightening past the outside edge.
34th over: South Africa 191-5 (Miller 10, Mulder 1) Target 363 Bracewell whistles through another cheap over, two singles from it, and the required rate is now 10.75. Drinks, and SA had better hope theirs is a stiff one.
WICKET! Markram c & b Ravindra 31 (South Africa 189-5)
Destructive batting, useful bowling, luxuriant hair; is there anything Rachin Ravindra can’t do? They’v’e a saying in Pakistan, “pace is pace”, but in other tautologies, pressure is pressure, and it gets big on Markram who looks to force one, checks it, and plops back a return catch. That, surely, is the match.
33rd over: South Africa 189-4 (Markram 31, Miller 9) Target 363 Santner will get credit for his bowling, but he’s also husbanded his attack intelligently, using the right men at the right time. Rvindra cedes just four singles from his first five balls, and SA badly need a boundary from the last one.
32nd over: South Africa 185-4 (Markram 29, Miller 7) Target 363 A wide, a single and a dot; surely Miller will go at something in the second half of the over? Er, no. He shoves to point, Markram does similarly to long-on, and an over that yields four is now what you need when the required rate is nearing 10.
31st over: South Africa 181-4 (Markram 27, Miller 6) Target 363 Ravindra into the attack and, after a single to Markram, Miller has a look at one then decides he’s seen enough, stretching into a drive over mid-off that races to the fence. Two further singles make it seven off the over, and at this stage, that isn’t really enough.
30th over: South Africa 174-4 (Markram 25, Miller 1) Target 363 If NZ win, Santner will have a lot of work to do in the final, given it’s at Abu Dhabi. But back to the here and now, Henry is off the field and if he can’t bowl again, SA will have a chance to get after whoever takes his allocation. For that to happen, though, they’ll need to stick within striking distance; as I type, Markram swipes a terrific pull over midwicket for four. A single follows, the third of the over, and the rate is now 10.45; averaging that for 20 overs is a lot to ask.
29th over: South Africa 166-4 (Markram 18, Miller 0) Target 363 Henry looks in some discomfort, but he did so well to take that catch; his captain now has threefer and that might just be a matchwinning contribution. If SA are going to do it, this pair will probably have to do most of the work,
WICKET! Klaasen c Henry b Santner 3 (South Africa 167-3)
Klaasen muscles high down the ground but doesn’t get enough of it, Henry running in, sinking down to his knees, and diving underneath the ball as it dies, in full knowledge that his shoulder is taking the brunt of the impact; he almost rams it into the turf, so desperate is he to hang on. The danger man goes, and might this be the beginning of the end?
29th over: South Africa 167-3 (Markram 19, Klassen 3) Target 363 One off two balls and the rate sneaks above nine; it’s a lot to average that many for 22 overs.
28th over: South Africa 166-3 (Markram 18, Klassen 3) Target 363 With a new batter facing, I’m not surprised Santner sticks with O’Rourke, hoping to finagle a cheap over from his most expensive bowler. And four singles tells us the ploy works nicely, the required rate now up at 8.95; SA have a lot to do from here, but still a few men who can thwack it.
27th over: South Africa 162-3 (Markram 16, Klaasen 2) Target 363 Klaasen gets off the mark to long-off, and this might well be the key partnership.
WICKET! Rassie van der Dussen b Santner 69 (South Africa 161-3)
Ooooh yeah! Santner again lands one on a length, it grips, spins away from the bat as Van der Dussen presses forward looking to turn into the on side, and spirits through the gate, crashing into middle. That was a sensational delivery.
27th over: South Africa 161-2 (Van der Dussen 69, Markram 16) Target 363 Van der Dussen takes one down the ground, then Markram drives to pint and they scamper through for two; had Smith’s throw hit it might’ve been gone.
26th over: South Africa 157-2 (Van der Dussen 68, Markram 13) Target 363 O’Rourke returns and his loosener offers width and length, Markram caressing a gorgeous cover-drive to the fence for four. A single follows, and might this be one of those overs which are keeping SA in the hunt? Yessir! Offered bounce, Van der Dussen hauls from outside off over mid-on for four more then, after a single, Markram plays another Proper Cricket Shot – is that our equivalent of The Wire’s “good police”? – and 14 off the over is exactly what was required.
25th over: South Africa 143-2 (Van der Dussen 63, Markram 4) Target 363 The way SA are going about this – sticking in the match without really going after it – NZ aren’t under that much pressure. As such, the spinners are being allowed to bowl, and this latest Santner over goes for four singles; at halfway, NZ were 143-1, but relying on going mad later on is a risky strategy.
24th over: South Africa 139-2 (Van der Dussen 61, Markram 2) Target 363 SA need too many to knock it about now in the hope of catching up later, and when they manage just four from Bracewell’s first four deliveries, they’re under pressure – all the more so given Markram is playing only because he passed a late fitness test. But, as I type, Van der Dussen steps and leans forward, smiting six over midwicket! That was sorely needed, a single makes it 11 off the over, and the required rate now stands at 8.61.
23rd over: South Africa 128-2 (Van der Dussen 51, Markram 1) Target 363 Markram squirts a single and wide follows, then one to cover; three runs and a wicket off a captain’s over from Santner.
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WICKET! Bavuma c Williamson b Santner 56 (South Africa 125-2)
Moved from midwicket to backward point after hurting his hand not taking a catch, when Bavuma bulls down and looks thrash over the top, slicing instead, Williamson is in the right place to hold a crucial snaffle. Santner bowled that so slowly it was almost going backwards, and that, along with late-doors dip, is what do for the SA skipper.
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22nd over: South Africa 125-1 (Bavuma 56, Van der Dussen 50) Target 363 Bavuma flicks over his shoulder for two – that’s the 100 partnership off 100 balls – then after Van der Dussen adds one, he does the same again. A cut to cover then makes Van der Dussen’s 50 – off 51 deliveries – before Bavuma completes the over with a single down the ground.
“As you say,” emails Mark Beadle, “this isn’t that bad a position at the moment. If they can get to 180 in the 30th with fewer than 4 wickets down, they’re right in it.”
I agree. I’m trying to retain composure, but you’re making me say it: this is shaping into a finish for the ages.
21st over: South Africa 118-1 (Bavuma 52, Van der Dussen 47) Target 363 Bavuma slaps uppishly towards midwicket and Williamson sees it all the way, diving right … only to palm into the turf! That wasn’t an easy chance but once he was there I fully expected him to take it; the pain is forced home next ball when Santner lands one in the slot, Van der Dussen stretching those Mr Tickle arms to slam six over long-on. A two and two ones complete an 11-run over, SA still righting themselves every time they appear to be drifting.
20th over: South Africa 107-1 (Bavuma 50, Van der Dussen 38) Target 363 Bavuma punches into the off-side, the single raising his fifty … and it’s the only run from the over. That’s one run from each of the last two overs, not really practicable when chasing 363. the required rate is now 8.53.
19th over: South Africa 106-1 (Bavuma 49, Van der Dussen 38) Target 363 Santner, though, responds really well to an expensive previous over, brave enough to toss them up and seeing Bavuma let him, beating the bat with a gorgeous fifth ball that yanks the batter forward, bounces, spins away … and passes over thee top of the stumps! Goodness me, that was a nut, and the over concludes with a single, the only run from it. Excellent work from the NZ captain.
18th over: South Africa 105-1 (Bavuma 48, Van der Dussen 38) Target 363 Nice from Van der Dussen, stepping towards off and tickling a ramp for three; a leg-side wide follows, then Bavuma steps, skips, and now facing a half-volley, toes over the infield for four. I don’t know, maybe this is the most cunningly-navigated chase ever – Bavuma looks calm out there – and three singles complete the over. Given the batting SA have to come and the might of the total they’re seeking, they’re not badly placed really.
17th over: South Africa 94-1 (Bavuma 42, Van der Dussen 34) Target 363 Santner introduces himself to the attack and he’ll desperately want to break this partnership; SA must surely look to victimise him. But its singles from his first two deliveries, then he slants one into Bavuma’s pad and appeals, but it was going down and there was, I think, also an edge; other than that, though, it was plumb. Two further singles complete the scoring from the over as we see a replay of Phillips throwing in awkwardly and intimating back pain; the required rate is now up to 8.15.
16th over: South Africa 90-1 (Bavuma 38, Van der Dussen 30) Target 363 It’s quite an effort for boots to clash with both SA colours, but Van der Dussen has pulled it off effortlessly. And after a wide, he turns to long-on for one then, back on strike, his mistimed flick drops just shy of midwicket. Two more singles make it five from this latest Bracewell over, and SA are doing just enough to stick in this; drinks.
15th over: South Africa 85-1 (Bavuma 38, Van der Dussen 30) Target 363 Thrree balls, three singles, the last of them pinched to Phillips, who shies and misses – though Bavuma was in. Oh, and when Van der Dussen hits to mid-off, they go again, but Santner can’t pick up smoothly; had he managed, it was trouble. Two more ones complete the other, six from it, and the sense here is of a rollercoaster clicking up a slope before it flings itself over the other side.
14th over: South Africa 79-1 (Bavuma 35, Van der Dussen 27) Target 363 I was a little surprised SA allowed Bracewell to twirl though his first over, largely unmolested; surely there’ll be an attack in his second? Er, not really. Vaan der Dussen adds a pinched single to midwicket, Bavuma comes down and fiddles to long on, and that’s just two from the over. The required rate is 7.88, and given these two have taken time in setting, you feel they’ve got to cash in at some point.
13th over: South Africa 77-1 (Bavuma 34, Van der Dussen 26) Target 363 Eeesh, O’Rourke is allowed a second over and Van der Dussen chips over the top, just, for two; if the fielder is two yards further back, it’s gone. Two singles follow while, off the pitch, Phillips is treated after hurting himself making that stop in the last over; SA have slowed again.
12th over: South Africa 72-1 (Bavuma 33, Van der Dussen 22) Target 363 Time for spin, Bracewell into the attack, and when Van der Dussen clips his loosener firmly towards midwicket, Phillips makes a fine stop, saving four. The remainder of the over yields three singles, the first raising the fifty partnership off forty balls.
11th over: South Africa 69-1 (Bavuma 32, Van der Dussen 20) Target 363 O’Rourke replaces Henry and opens with a wide half-volley which Van der Dussen does not, cannot, allow to go unpunished, stretching to marmalise four through cover. This is boiling now, singles off the next two balls keeping the score moving – SA need boundaries but early doors, they allowed way too many dots – and as I type, Van der Dussen smokes a drive only to pick out the fielder. No matter: O’Rourke leaps wide of the crease, launches a cross-seamer that crowds Bavuma … and is edged for four. A run-down to third follows, they run two, and that’s 13 off the over, three belters in a row for SA. Thinking to do for Mitchell Santner.
10th over: South Africa 56-1 (Bavuma 25, Van der Dussen 14) Target 363 That plan of Bavuma’s? It’s here! Jamieson bangs in short and the SA captain wastes no time getting forward before spinning into a pull, launched over deep backward for six. Two to square leg follows, then two more from a drive that squirts into the on side, and that’s 10 added for the second over in a row, the crowd now chanting Bavuma’s name. The required rate is now 7.67.
9th over: South Africa 46-1 (Bavuma 15, Van der Dussen 14) Target 363 Van der Dussen nudges one to mid-off and they sprint through, then Bavuma steps outside the line in order to make room … and he lofts powerfully over mid-off for four; about time and more like it. A run-down for one follows, then Van der Dussen crouches, rises, takes a little step, then leans back and drives through cover for four. He’s tall enough to mess with Henry’s length, and South Africa badly needed that.
8th over: South Africa 36-1 (Bavuma 10, Van der Dussen 9) Target 363 “He might have a cunning plan,” says Ian Smith of Bavuma, “but I don’t know what it is”; and a captain’s knock of eight off 23 is not what you need when chasing a monster. I guess given the power SA have lower down, he might want to keep wickets in hand, but it’s so hard to pull back a poor start. In fairness, though, Both NZ bowlers deserve credit, finding a groove and line; Jamieson opens this over with four dots, and though Van der Dussen then takes one to fine leg, before Bavuma half-bats two to extra, this is not a good start.
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7th over: South Africa 33-1 (Bavuma 8, Van der Dussen 8) Target 363 Van der Dussen knocks to mid-off and Santner’s throw is poor, allowing a second run. But Henry is kicking up quite a lick, ceding just one more from it, and already, it feels like SA are in trouble, the first powerplay almost expired.
6th over: South Africa 30-1 (Bavuma 8, Van der Dussen 5) Target 363 Now it’s Bavuma sent a half-volley on to the pads and the skipper doesn’t miss out, leaning into a one-footed drive through midwicket for four. A single into the same area follows, then Van der Dussen dabs into the off-side for one more. Six off the over, and so far we’ve only had one which satisfied the rate, now up at 7.56.
5th over: South Africa 24-1 (Bavuma 2, Van der Dussen 4) Target 363 Van der Dussen, wearing dayglo yellow boots, knows he’s got to do something, and when his first ball is a half-volley on the pads, he wastes no time dismissively turning it away for four.
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WICKET! Rickelton c Bracewell b Henry 17 (South Africa 20-1)
Oh Ryan, what have you done?! Henry persuades one to stick in the surface, and Rickelton, spooked, checks his shot, picking out Bracewell at mid-off.
5th over: South Africa 20-0 (Rickleton 17, Bavuma 3) Target 363It’s not been the incendiary start I felt SA needed and at the start of this over the required rate is already up at 7.47, but Rickelton’s driving suggests he might be able to do something here. The batters take a single each from the first four balls of the over.
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4th over: South Africa 19-0 (Rickleton 17, Bavuma 2) Target 363 Three more dots form Jamieson make it nine straight, at which point Bavuma decides he’s had enough, looking to drive, edging, and adding one. This brings the left-handed Rickelton back on to strike and donated a delivery in the corridor, but on the wrong side, he glances four through square leg; he’s timing it beautifully.
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3rd over: South Africa 14-0 (Rickleton 13, Bavuma 1) Target 363 Rickelton drives hard but straight to mid-off and they run one, then Henry again beats the outside edge with a jazzer. A half-batted one soon gets Bavuma down the other end, before Rickelton again strokes gorgeously down the ground for four. He barely moved feet, instead waiting and playing under his eyes.
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2nd over: South Africa 8-0 (Rickleton 8, Bavuma 0) Target 363 In charges Jamieson and he beats Bavuma’s bat first up, then ploughs through a maiden. His release point, we see, is the highest of any bowler in the competition – I bet you can hear him coming – though Marco Jansen is an even taller man.
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1st over: South Africa 8-0 (Rickleton 8, Bavuma 0) Target 363 Henry opens and Rickleton gets away second ball, French-cutting to the fine-leg fence before under-edging low to the keeper, one bounce. But if that first boundary is a fluke, the second – the full face of the bat presented – is a beauty. SA are away.
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And play.
Here come our batters…
While we wait, here’s playlist of my favourite South African tunes. I absolutely promise, it’s a banger, and if you’re unfamiliar with amapiano, it kicks you right in the soul.
Dale Steyn reckons NZ’s total is chaseable on this track and it is, but the combination of pressure and attack makes it almost impossible. SA will need a really good start and at least two major knocks from their batters. There are a few capable of playing them, but can they play them today? History says nay.
I very much enjoy that, in South African English, when speaking in the plural it’s not series and innings, but serieses and inningses. Rightly so.
Tell you what, I’d not be enjoying this tournament if the presenters weren’t all clad in identical baby blue blazers. Thank goodness for that.
Incidentally, the older I get, the more often I wonder if Bringing It All Back Home is the best Bob album. Now that you ask.
Rachin Ravindra, though, what a boy. I might be suggesting this out of envy – I very much regret spending my teenage years straightening my jewfro – but his is surely the best barnet in cricket. Feel free to suggest his competitors.
Thanks Daniel and good morning everyone. I’d be extremely surprised if NZ don’t have way more than enough; my sense is that chasing big totals, teams either get close or nowhere near, and I’m reasoning that the pressure of having to score so many will lead to early wickets.
This week's Spin column
While you wait for the change of innings, get stuck into this week’s Spin.
It’s a lovely yarn from Simon Burnton as he shines a light on a groundsman who’s hanging up the lawn mower chord (that works, right?) after four decades in the game.
New Zealand post 361-6
Is that enough? I think so, although 350 wasn’t enough for England against Australia on this ground. But I think the Kiwis will learn from the Saffas and take pace off the ball and bowl cutters into the deck.
That’s what Ngidi did in this last over. One was fortuitously nicked for four by Phillips. Another was spanked down the ground by Bracewell who knew it was coming.
Phillips ends unbeaten on 49 from just 27 balls. Mitch Santner bunted two off the one ball he faced.
Brilliant batting from New Zealand, especially from Ravindra and Williamson who put on 160 for the second wicket and reached personal hundreds. Can the Proteas get there? Daniel Harris will be with you to the close.
WICKET! Bracewell c Rickelton b Ngidi 16 (New Zealand 360-6)
He’s smoked that to cover but has to go! Ngidi gets a wicket with the penultimate ball of the over. Job done by Bracewell who hit two fours and faced only 12 deliveries.
49th over: New Zealand 349-5 (Phillips 42, Bracewell 12) Jansen closes out with 0-79 from his 10. (I forgot the mention that Rabada signed out with 2-70 after the last over). Jansen’s over was all over the place, but the Kiwis couldn’t find a boundary thanks to some sharp fielding from Miller in the deep and Maharaj at short fine leg. Six off it, all run. One to go. I reckon they’ve already got more than enough.
48th over: New Zealand 343-5 (Phillips 40, Bracewell 8) Phillips starts the over by crunching Rabada back over his head for six. A wide and then a two off his pads comes before some width that Phillips swats through the covers for four more. After a mini fightback from the Saffas it’s New Zealand on the charge again. A single off a bumper that hits Phillips’ helmet brings Bracewell on strike. He tries to pull ta short ball and gets a lucky bounce off his pads that shoots away for four leg byes. A single off the last ball means it’s 19 off the over. 70 runs off the last five overs.
47th over: New Zealand 324-5 (Phillips 27, Bracewell 7) Ngidi’s cutter gets the wicket and his only fast ball of the over, a poor spray on Bracewell’s pads, is clipped for four. Two wides down the leg side will annoy the bowler and captain alike. Bracewell ends the set with a cut into the deep that counts for two.
WICKET! Mitchell c Rabada b Ngidi 49 (New Zealand 314-5)
Mitchell holes out to deep midwicket! He’s one short of a milestone but that won’t bother him. Just 37 balls with four fours and a six. Rabada charging in from the rope catches it clean. Another slower forces the mistake as Mitchell had to reach for it. Was also a touch wider and it met the toe end of the swinging bat as he dragged it towards the leg side.
46th over: New Zealand 314-4 (Mitchell 49, Phillips 26) The last 30 balls have cost 57 runs. Phillips ends this Jansen over with four consecutive fours – a tuck round the corner, a swiped down long leg, a drive down the ground and a swat past midwicket. 18 off the over, the most expensive of the match.
45th over: New Zealand 296-4 (Mitchell 48, Phillips 9) The slower cutters have worked a treat for South Africa but Mitchell is ready and waiting for this one from Ngidi. He stands still and thwacks one over square leg. Ngidi goes again and Mitchell skies it to Mulder who drops it having lost it in the setting sun! Just didn’t get close to it and had to watch it trickle to the boundary. There’s four more with a scything cut shot. 6-4-4 in three consecutive balls. Three singles either side of the carnage. New Zealand back on track with that lucrative over.
44th over: New Zealand 279-4 (Mitchell 33, Phillips 7) A good set from Rabada, just five singles off that one. He’s showing the way for the Kiwi bowlers. Pace off is the way to go. South Africa have done brilliantly to get back into this. The last 24 balls have cost just 27 runs and only two boundaries.
What’s the target from here?
“New Zealand need 360,” says the X account Radio Cricket (formerly AltCricket). “The conditions will change dramatically.”
That seems like more than enough to me. I feel that 330 would be hard to chase down. Unless of course Miller and Klaasen get hold of a few.
Updated
43rd over: New Zealand 274-4 (Mitchell 31, Phillips 4) Mitchell muscles a straight drive down the ground for four. Jansen’s cutter was a touch too full there and the big hitting Mitchell has his first boundary. He gets his second with a deft dab to a short and wide one that was just begging to be put away. An expensive over from the lanky lefty; 13 off it.
42nd over: New Zealand 261-4 (Mitchell 20, Phillips 3) Great stuff from Rabada. The wicket of Latham and only four runs from that over. He got away with a couple of slower balls down the leg side and can thank Jansen for sharp work out in the deep at backward point for keeping a Mitchell cut shot to just two. South Africa, maybe for the first time in this innings, have a semblance of control.
WICKET! Latham b Rabada 4 (New Zealand 257-4)
The South Africans are fighting back! Latham crouches down as he attempts to scoop it over fine leg, but misses it before hearing the death rattle of ball on stumps behind him.
41st over: New Zealand 257-3 (Mitchell 19, Latham 4) Jansen returns and he does well. The batters are tipping and running, but Bavuma won’t mind New Zealand dealing in singles. Five of them before a tasty slower ball has the beating of Mitchell’s attempted pull to the over with a dot.
40th over: New Zealand 252-3 (Mitchell 17, Latham 1) Both centurions are back in the shed and it’s over to the power hitters now. Mulder gets a wicket with some brave bowling as he went for the wide yorker against Williamson who was moving around his crease. Latham is the new man (I was expecting Philips). He takes a single off his first ball, a quickly taken one to the man at mid-off.
WICKET! Williamson c Ngidi b Mulder 102 (New Zealand 251-3)
Hundred and out! He moves across his crease to give himself room for the scoop, but Mulder follows and cramps him. The ball shoots off his bat and spoons its way towards short fine leg where Ngidi catches it above his head. Job done though from the former skipper who walks off having produced the goods yet again for his country. 94 balls for his 102.
Another hundred for Williamson!
Three hundreds in as many matches against the Proteas! He’s a modern great, an all-time great, and he’s got yet another ton to his name. This one comes off just 91 balls. Two sixes and 10 fours, the latest a scoop off Mulder over the keeper’s head. He was 50 off 61 balls. He’s timed this to perfection!
39th over: 245-2 (Williamson 97, Mitchell 16) A rare tidy over as far as the South Africans are concerned, worth only two singles. And that’ll be that for Maharaj who signs off with 0-65 from his 10.
38th over: New Zealand 243-2 (Williamson 96, Mitchell 15) Mulder has shaken off his niggle and is back into the attack. Same old story though as Williamson continues to collect boundaries at will. A perfect steer behind point takes him to within a hit of three figures. His ability to pick gaps is almost otherworldly. He reached 50 off 61 balls. He’s now 96 off 87. He’s a master of his craft. At the other end Mitchell is doing his bit, rotating the strike as he gathers for the coming assault.
37th over: New Zealand 234-2 (Williamson 89, Mitchell 13) 10 off this Maharaj over that was going well for the spinner, until the last ball when Williamson got down low to slog sweep a four to cow corner. Some hard running from the five previous balls added six to the score.
36th over: New Zealand 224-2 (Williamson 82, Mitchell 10) Mitchell swings hard at Rabada’s first ball. He doesn’t time it but does find the big gap at cow corner and they come back for two. He gets two more with a clip off his hips and a single down to deep extra cover. Williamson collects a single of his own before Mitchell adds two more with a flick to deep backward square. Eight off the over, all run.
35th over: New Zealand 216-2 (Williamson 81, Mitchell 3) Just three singles from that Maharaj set. New Zealand taking stock before going again. Shouldn’t be long before Mitchell starts exploding.
34th over: New Zealand 213 -2 (Williamson 80, Mitchell 1) Rabada with the breakthrough to end the 164-run stand. Two cutters and then another one to find the edge. Mitchell’s first ball was a yorker and his second was a generous lifter on his hips that he tucked for a single.
WICKET! Ravindra c Klaasen b Rabada 108 (New Zealand 212-2)
Finally! One of the best innings you’ll see comes to an end. A cutter with some width from Rabada brings out a big drive from Ravindra but this time he doesn’t middle it. A fat edge goes straight to Klaasen to catches it clean. Muted celebrations from the South Africans but they’ll be inwardly delighted. That was a truly outstanding knock off just 101 balls. 13 fours and two sixes in the mix as well.
Updated
33rd over: New Zealand 212-1 (Ravindra 108, Williamson 80) The Blacks Caps have this game in the palm of their hands. Five singles off Maharaj before Williamson gets down on one knee and launches a huge six over midwicket. They’ll be targeting 400. Sounds crazy but why not? Carry on like this with the firepower to come and they could do it.
Here’s a wild stat from Wisden’s Yas Rana:
Rachin Ravindra already has as many ODI hundreds as Brendon McCullum.
My word.
32nd over: New Zealand 201-1 (Ravindra 105, Williamson 72) It’s an exhibition from these two. New Zealand’s greatest ever alongside the kid who could eclipse him. Rabada, one of the greats himself, has just haemorrhaged 17 runs in the over. Ravindra’s clipped two brought him three figures before he clipped four down to fine leg. Then Williamson ramped a four with a cute paddle towards fine leg and scythed another four through cover. They’re unstoppable. South Africa need this drinks break to regroup. Oh, Mulder is off injured. This is not going well for the Saffas.
Updated
Rachin Ravindra brings up his 100!
He’s got five hundreds and they’ve all come in ICC tournaments. That was not perfect. A superb knock. Off 93 balls with 12 fours and one six. He is the future of New Zealand batting. Plenty to come in this innings. How many more can he get?
Updated
31st over: New Zealand 184-1 (Ravindra 98, Williamson 62) That’s a good over from Ngidi. Two cutters beat Ravindra’s angled blade. One was close enough to consider a review that was burned. A two and a single from the left-hander takes him closer to his ton.
They’re reviewing for a caught behind! I think Ravindra has missed this Ngidi cutter, but they’re desperate so worth a look I guess. Nope, flat line on Ultraedge as expected. SA burn a review. Good nut, mind.
30th over: New Zealand 181-1 (Ravindra 95, Williamson 62) Markram has his hands on his head as Williamson slaps a drive that has extra cover diving, but it clears him and races away for four more. It’s all going New Zealand’s way.
29th over: New Zealand 175-1 (Ravindra 94, Williamson 57) Ngidi returns and Klaasen drops Williamson! It was a hard chance as he was diving full length to his right, but the keeper, horizontal with his body, couldn’t get enough of a glove on it. Earlier in the over Ngidi’s cutter beat Ravindra’s outside edge. He’s been by far the most threatening of the Saffa bowlers.
28th over: New Zealand 169-1 (Ravindra 90, Williamson 55) Williamson brings up his second consecutive half-century in this tournament, but his heart would have been in his mouth as he spooned Markram high into the leg side. Van der Dussen, running in from deep midwicket, thought about the dive but opted out so it landed safely as they came back for two. Kane then nails a reverse sweep for four. Four singles across the set. Another productive over worth 10.
27th over: New Zealand 159-1 (Ravindra 88, Williamson 47) A bit of luck brings up the 100-run partnership as Ravindra edges Maharaj for four. No slip in place means its hands on heads for the Saffas. No luck involved three balls later as Williamson comes down the track and deposits a high and handsome six over wide long on.
26th over: New Zealand 147-1 (Ravindra 83, Williamson 43) Kane brings out the reverse sweep but can’t get it away. He’s beaten from the first and picks out short third with the second. Ravindra cuts – uppishly – past Bavuma in the covers who dives but can’t reach it. Van der Dussen mops up as they come back for three.
25th over: New Zealand 143-1 (Ravindra 80, Williamson 39) Ravindra is beaten in the flight as he comes down the track. It’s much shorter than he was anticipating, but he throws his hands at it and smacks it down the ground for four. He’s at the pitch of the next one and nails a big six wide of mid-on. After 24 deliveries without a boundary, Ravindra hammers 10 runs from two balls. Three singles across the set adds up to lucrative over.
24th over: New Zealand 130-1 (Ravindra 69, Williamson 37) Bavuma has recognised that spin gives him a bit more control of things so he introduces Markram’s offies into the attack. He’ll bowl quicker and flatter than Maharaj. Less threatening perhaps but just as tight. The Kiwis are content with just three singles.
23rd over: New Zealand 127-1 (Ravindra 68, Willaimson 35) Nice from Maharaj. Beats Ravindra’s outside edge and pushes another past Williamson’s poke. There’s also a spoon over midwicket that might have fallen to a fielder but instead counts for two. Three singles elsewhere across the over.
22nd over: New Zealand 122-1 (Ravindra 67, Williamson 31) Five singles off that Jansen over. The last ball was banged in hard and Williamson was cramped as he swivelled it away for one. Otherwise total control from the pair who have now put on 76 for the second wicket from 86 balls.
21st over: New Zealand 117-1 (Ravindra 65, Williamson 28) Ravindra picks up another boundary, pressing forward to a flighted ball from Maharaj to caress it through the covers. It’s five dot balls elsewhere but you feel that the Black Caps win another over on points. Ravindra looks like he could keep batting til next week.
20th over: New Zealand 113-1 (Ravindra 61, Williamson 28) Jansen back into the attack and returns with a good one. Just two singles. Better length and a tighter line – that’s the blueprint that the Kiwis will no doubt follow when they get the ball. The lanky lefty is bowling into the pitch, forcing the batters to manipulate the angles.
19th over: New Zealand 111-1 (Ravindra 60, Williamson 27) Better from Maharaj. Changing his pace, he beats Ravindra in the flight but the batter gets away with it, getting his pads in the way as he comes down the track. Two singles off that one. South Africa need to make a play here.
18th over: New Zealand 109-1 (Ravindra 59, Williamson 26) Ravindra is “bossing things” as Kass Naidoo says. He helps a poor ball from Mulder for four down to fine leg to bring up his 50. He then clatters another short ball – “like a baseball player” as Dale Steyn put it – for a one-bounce four to cow corner. Then, the shot of the day, he leans into a punch past mid-on for another four. Just outstanding batting.
Updated
17th over: New Zealand 94-1 (Ravindra 46, Williamson 25) Time for spin as Keshav Maharaj comes into the attack. He bowled 10 overs on the trot against England in a spell of 2-35. He starts down leg and Ravindra sweeps for one. Williamson gets one as well through the covers. One more to Ravindra between three dots. Handy start from the spinner.
16th over: New Zealand 91-1 (Ravindra 44, Williamson 24) After a drinks break Ravindra forces a front-foot pull off Mulder and gets two towards cow corner. Williamson gets a quick single to point and Ravindra gets one to long-on to keep the strike. They look in full control with the willow.
15th over: New Zealand 87-1 (Ravindra 41, Williamson 23) Class from Kane as he leans into a leg stump half volley and clips it through midwicket for four. Rare dross from Rabada. He over corrects with a drag down and Williamson pulls for two more out in the deep. In a flash his strike rate has climbed into the 80s. Two more off his pads. Rabada moves his line outside the off stump where Williamson steers a single down to deep third. Ominous signs for the Proteas at drinks.
14th over: New Zealand 77-1 (Ravindra 40, Williamson 14) Mulder does well to keep Williamson quiet for a bit. The former skipper gets a single but is 12 off 22. Ravindra decides to break the shackles and comes down the track and spanks a boundary over midwicket before collecting a single of his own down the ground. A slower ball bumper is called wide and Williamson nudge the extra ball off his pads for two. Two singles elsewhere means it’s a relatively expensive set worth 10 runs.
13th over: New Zealand 67-1 (Ravindra 34, Williamson 11) A maiden from Ngidi who kept Williamson on strike, which is not easy given his ability to rotate strike. Tight lines, straight fields and a couple of slower balls the recipe there.
12th over: New Zealand 67-1 (Ravindra 34, Williamson 11) Mulder, a contender for most improved bowler in international cricket, starts with a tidy set, tight lines and a good length. Ravindra spoons a couple towards the leg side before the pair collect a single each.
11th over: New Zealand 63-1 (Ravindra 31, Williamson 10) Rabada finds a genuine edge off Williamson’s bat. He was trying to dab it to deep third but it goes much finer, just short of the keeper in fact, and runs away for four. I still think a slip would be a shout. Three singles elsewhere means the Kiwis are going great guns so far.
10th over: New Zealand 56-1 (Ravindra 29, Williamson 5) Ngidi has done well to tighten up since that loose stuff early on. Angling in to the right handed Williamson, he’s offering no width while also varying his pace. Sharp fielding at backward point from Markram as well as cover-point by Miller keep the dot balls ticking. But Williamson won’t be denied. The final ball is a good one, but not good enough to stop Kane from standing tall and driving on the up for four through the gap.
9th over: New Zealand 51-1 (Ravindra 28, Williamson 1) Rabada into the attack and as you’d expect from one of the greats, he finds his line and length right away. Just three singles of that first set, including a healthy edge off Ravindra’s bat that trickles down to deep third. Might be worth having a slip in place for KG.
8th over: New Zealand 48-1 (Ravindra 26, Williamson 0) The Kiwis were off the flyer, one that reminded me of their dashing start in the 2015 World Cup when Baz McCullum plundered 59 off 26 balls against the Saffas in that classic semi-final. But Ngidi got his man and the men in green are back in the game.
WICKET! Young c Markram b Ngidi 21 (New Zealand 48-1)
Slower ball does the trick! Ngidi has one of the best disguised cutters in the game and this one bags the breakthrough. Rolled his fingers across the ball and Young decides to take in on. He gets a lot of wood on it but skies it straight up to mid-off where Markram pouches it. South Africa needed that.
7th over: New Zealand 44-0 (Young 18, Ravindra 25) Three boundaries off the over for Ravindra and each shot was better than the last. He started off by lashing Jansen through the covers. Then a nonchalant flick off his hips through midwicket. Then a punch wide of mid-off. Just brilliant batting.
6th over: New Zealand 30-0 (Young 17, Ravindra 12) Better from Ngidi. Tighter line and fuller length. A couple of slower balls too, the first two of the innings. One, a 112 km/h cutter, squirts towards midwicket but finds space and Ravindra collects a single.
5th over: New Zealand 29-0 (Young 17, Ravindra 11) Brilliant fielding at square leg from a diving van der Dussen saves three runs off another crunching pull shot from Ravindra. But there’s no stopping Young’s pull that finds the big gap behind square on the leg side. The South Africans haven’t found the length yet. Too short and it’s easy pickings on this good deck.
4th over: New Zealand 21-0 (Young 10, Ravindra 10) Boundaries to bookend this Ngidi over. First Young steered another loose ball through backward point off the front foot. Then Ravindra showed his class with a lovely flick off the pads – all balance and timing – to take four through midwicket. New Zealand’s openers look in good touch.
3rd over: New Zealand 12-0 (Young 5, Ravindra 6) The first boundary comes off a mighty pull from Ravindra, who rode the bounce of Jansen to smoke it through square leg. That was a top shot! He collected two via a misfield in the covers, though that was crunched as well so Miller perhaps deserves some slack for taking the sting out of it.
2nd over: New Zealand 6-0 (Young 5, Ravindra 0) Ngidi from the other end. Not Rabada. The burly bowler is hitting a shortish length hard and Young flashes at some width, catching it with a thick outside edge that flies over Jansen at first slip for four. Another shortish, wideish one invites the cut but Young can’t get enough on it ti pierce the infield.
1st over: New Zealand 2-0 (Young 1, Ravindra 0) Young gets an inside edge and a single down to fine leg off the first ball. Jansen then lands a great bouncer that has Ravindra ducking. A wide down the leg side adds one to the score but that’s a good start from the South African beanpole.
One of my favourite writers, Andrew Fidel Fernando of Cricinfo fame, has this to say on X:
I hope, today, NZ and South Africa put on a semi final for the ages in Lahore. I hope it is a match the city will revel in. The cricket world is increasingly unkind, held to ransom by the lowest impulses of South Asian geopolitics, and now a near-slavish worship of commerce.
Nuff said.
Slight delay (aaaargh!!!). A problem with the sightscreen. Some of the black sheet covering the white grandstand has blown sideways.
A slip and a leg slip in place.
OK, furniture sorted, away we go!
Anthems are done. A very sparse crowd in attendance. Hopefully it’ll fill up but I won’t hold my breath.
New Zealand’s openers are sauntering to the wicket, shadow batting and stretching as they do so.
The two-metre tall Marco Jansen will get us underway with the ball.
Deck looks good. Expect runs.
From a 35-year-old Saffa, to a 25-year-old Kiwi.
It’s now Rachin Ravindra’s turn to get a glowing segment on Sky.
He calls ODI cricket the “pinnacle”. Too right. I’m a big fan.
The lad’s a gun! He’s got four tons and four 50s from 31 games in this format. Getting him early will be key for the South Africans.
Our first correspondence is from a Kiwi, Alistair Connor:
Hi Daniel
As a Kiwi I breathed a sigh of relief yesterday when India eliminated Australia, because … there is a profound cultural problem there. Hope it goes away one day, and I will be able to look forward to an Aus/NZ final.
I have no such fear of South Africa, not out of disrespect for a very talented team. But they have their own demons.
David Miller is getting a big segment on Sky’s coverage.
One of the greatest South African cricketers. Ever. I’ll die on that hill.
In terms of cricket tragedies, Miller never playing a Test match is right up there.
Teams
New Zealand are unchanged from the team that lost to India.
NZ: Ravindra, Young, Williamson, Mitchell, Latham (wk), Phillips, Bracewell, Santner (c), Henrym Jamieson, O’Rourke.
Just one change for the Saffas as the skipper returns to open the batting in place of Tristan Stubbs.
SA: Bavuma (c), Rickelton, van der Dussen, Markram, Klaasen, Miller, Muder, Jansen, Maharaj, Rabada, Ngidi.
New Zealand win the toss and bat first
It didn’t work for Australia yesterday, but we’re on a different deck, at a different ground, in a different country.
Mitch Santner says, “It looks like a good wicket, there shouldn’t be dew. It’s a privilege to captain the country, we know what to expect in these conditions.
SA’s captain, the fit again Temba Bavuma, says, “We weren’t too concerned. We would’ve preferred to bat. But we’ll have to start well.”
Some big news this morning!
One of the greats, Steve Smith as retired from ODI cricket.
He’s doing this to prolong his Test career.
He’s calling time at 170 ODI matches where he plundered 5,800 runs at an average of 43.28.
Preamble
So, who will meet India in the Champions Trophy final on Sunday?
The South African Proteas, unbeaten so far and possessing a formidable bowling arsenal and a batting unit in form? Or the New Zealand Black Caps, forever punching above their weight with a team that is more than the sum of its parts?
On paper, you’d think the Saffas should have this wrapped up, but this is an ICC knockout game, and we all know how those tend to go for the men in green and gold.
South Africa enjoy a 42-26 head-to-head record against New Zealand but the one that sticks in my memory is the 2015 World Cup semi-final, where Grant Elliott clobbered Dale Steyn for six in the last over to secure a remarkable victory. Oh, what about the quarterfinal in Mirpur when the Proteas (not for the first, or last time) managed to bottle a run chase from a winning position.
The Proteas will be keen to shift the narrative today.
Will do they do? We’ll find out together.
Do write in if you’ve got some thoughts.
I’ll be back later with the toss and team news.
First ball at 9am GMT.
