SA vs NZ Review: New Zealand tumble as Proteas cruise toward Top four

The 32nd match of the ongoing ODI World Cup 2023 was played at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Pune, where South Africa and New Zealand met. The highly-anticipated game turned out a rather one-sided affair, with the Proteas handing New Zealand a massive 190-run defeat to go to the top of the table once again.

New Zealand won the toss and boldly elected to field first. South Africa’s batting performance in the match was quite impressive, with openers Temba Bavuma and Quinton de Kock starting confidently. However, Bavuma was dismissed by Trent Boult when their total reached 38.

De Kock then formed a partnership with Rassie van der Dussen, not for the first time, and both batters kept on playing their shots with ease, with de Kock reaching his fourth century of the World Cup (114 off 116(, including 10 fours and three sixes. The duo formed a remarkable 200-run partnership for the second wicket.

Rassie also scored a brilliant century before being dismissed by Tim Southee as he scored 133 off 118 balls, featuring nine fours and five sixes. David Miller and Heinrich Klaasen provided a quick finish, helping South Africa reach a total of 357 runs.

In the chase, New Zealand struggled from the beginning as they lost early wickets, including Devon Conway and Rachin Ravindra. They continued to lose wickets at regular intervals and could not handle the pressure of the big run chase.

They were eventually bowled out for just 167 runs, resulting in a big loss. Glen Phillips was the only positive for them as he scored a quick 60 with four fours and four sixes. Keshav Maharaj took four wickets while Marco Jansen and Gerald Coetzee took three and two wickets respectively.

Top Performers of the Match

Best Batter

Rassie van der Dussen (133 of 118)

Rassie van der Dussen had been struggling with his form in the previous matches, but he made a strong comeback against New Zealand. Initially, he took some time to settle in, but once he found his rhythm, he displayed his true class with the bat. He played a magnificent innings, scoring a brilliant century, which was his second in this year’s World Cup. His knock of 133 off 118 balls included nine fours and five sixes, making him the standout batter of the match.

Best Bowler

Keshav Maharaj (4/46, 9 overs)

Keshav Maharaj had already proven his worth in the previous game against Pakistan, where he hit the winning boundary for his team. In this match, he showcased his brilliance with his stronger suit. He bowled exceptionally well in the middle overs, not allowing the Kiwi batters to free their arms. Maharaj ended up taking a four-wicket haul, becoming the top bowler of the match. His contributions were instrumental in South Africa’s victory.

What next?

Going ahead, Pakistan will play against New Zealand on November 4 while South Africa will take on India on November 5.