Steyn, Duminy shine for South Africa

Two-run triumph over New Zealand keeps semi-final hopes alive .

DHAKA:

Dale Steyn and JP Duminy led South Africa to a thrilling two-run win over Group One rivals New Zealand on Monday that kept them in the hunt for a semi-final spot at the World Twenty20 in Bangladesh.

South Africa, who lost their opening match to Sri Lanka, struggled early on and needed a blistering unbeaten 86 off 43 balls by Duminy to reach 170 for six.

New Zealand seemed to be cruising in their reply thanks to Kane Williamson’s 35-ball 51 and Ross Taylor’s 62. They needed 31 off 24 deliveries with seven wickets in hand but a brilliant two-over spell from Steyn (four for 17) turned the match on its head.

The fiery paceman dismissed the dangerous Corey Anderson for seven in the 18th over and then picked up two for four in the last over with the Kiwis, who beat England in their first match, requiring seven for victory.

Taylor, needing three off the last ball, was run out.

“I was thinking all the time, Dale is my trump card and I need to bring him back in the game because he was bowling beautifully,” said South Africa captain Faf du Plessis, who missed the Sri Lanka match with injury, at the presentation.

“But with the way they were hitting the ball, it was a fantastic effort from Dale. We were in huge trouble at the start. Duminy took his time and then hit it sweetly at the end. Fantastic effort and one of the best innings I have seen him play.”

‘Credit to SA for hanging in there’

Leg-spinner Imran Tahir also played a key role, taking two for 27, but paceman Morne Morkel had a day to forget as he went for 50 in three overs.

“Credit to South Africa for the way they hung in there. We probably should have won it pretty easily,” said New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum.

Earlier, Hashim Amla (41) and Duminy fought back with a 55-run stand after South Africa had slumped to 42 for three. Amla got out in a bizarre fashion when he thumped a ball from Anderson and it hit Duminy’s bat at the non-striker’s end before spooning up for the bowler to complete an easy catch. Duminy was full of improvised strokes, bludgeoning 10 fours and three sixes as his side added 70 runs in the last five overs.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 25^th, 2014.

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