South Africa fallen short... again

Mighty South Africa stunned by Kiwis in World Cup quarter-final.

DHAKA:

South Africa’s reputation as cricket’s perennial chokers returned to haunt them as New Zealand pulled off a dramatic 49-run win on Friday to qualify for the World Cup semi-finals.

The Black Caps, restricted to 221 for eight after taking first strike, bundled out South Africa for 172 in an exciting finish in front of 23,000 fans at the Shere Bangla stadium.

Jacob Oram was New Zealand’s man of the match with four wickets and two catches, while off-spinner Nathan McCullum sealed the Proteas’ fate with three for 24 from 10 overs.

Captain Graeme Smith (28) and Jacques Kallis (47) put on 61 as South Africa moved to 108 for two by the 24th over, before the last eight wickets crashed for 64 runs. It will be New Zealand’s sixth appearance in the semi-finals, where they await the winners of today’s match between Sri Lanka and England in Colombo.

South Africa, often regarded as the best team never to have the World Cup, have now lost in three semi-finals, two quarter-finals and once in the first round.

“There are no words to describe how I feel,” said Smith. “We just have to take it on the chin. It was a very disappointing evening.

“I thought we bowled pretty well and at 100 for 2, we were sitting well, and then we lost too many wickets.”

Smith was mystified by a World Cup record which shows South Africa having failed to win any knockout game in the tournament since their 1992 debut.

Smith bids adieu on a sad note

“Your guess is as good as mine. It’s been happening since 1992. We just weren’t good enough tonight, but we have to take it forward and not get bogged down,” said Smith who has played his last one-day international. “There will be a new coach and new captain. We are disappointed with tonight, and nothing I say is going to change that for fans back home.”

Vettori proud of bowlers

New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori praised his team’s spirit.

“Every single bowler stepped up today, and probably it was the fielding that got us through,” said Vettori. “Once we got 220, we knew we had to be aggressive. We knew it was a tricky pitch and I knew it was going to be an old-school one-day game.”

Defending a modest total, New Zealand earned a lucky break in the first over of the innings when Hashim Amla tried to cut a ball from Nathan McCullum. The edged ball bounced off wicket-keeper Brendon McCullum’s boot to Daniel Vettori in the slips and umpire Aleem Dar declared the batsman out after consulting the TV umpire.

Smith and Kallis rallied the Proteas before the captain cut Oram to point where substitute fielder Jamie How picked up a low catch in the 15th over. Kallis moved steadily towards his half-century when, in an uncharacteristic rush of blood, he pulled seamer Tim Southee high to deep mid-wicket where Oram took a running catch. New Zealand then claimed two wickets in one over to reduce the rattled South Africans to 121 for five in 28 overs.

South Africa failed to recover from that and handed New Zealand a win that seemed unlikely at the interval.

Man-of-the-match Jacob Oram

Thankfully I was tall enough and managed to get there for the Jaques Kallis catch. I don’t want to take credit for that one but I suppose Kallis’ dismissal was the turning point of the match. We believe we can go all the way now. This is among the best moments in my career, another one is beating South Africa in the 2003 World Cup.”

Published in The Express Tribune, March 26^th, 2011.