South Africa closed out the match with finesse after its batsmen had powered the side to a strong total. In pursuit of 171, New Zealand never really threatened to win. Behind in the run-rate for most part, the Kiwis fell short by 13 runs in a critical Group `E' clash of the Super Eights at the Kensington Oval on Thursday.
Eventually, Albie Morkel's brutal 18-ball 40 – his innings featured five sixes – proved the difference between the sides. The South African was adjudged Man of the Match.
New Zealand required Brendon McCullum to fire but the intrepid Kiwi was spectacularly held by a diving Herschelle Gibbs at cover when he flat-batted swing bowler Charl Langeveldt in the first over.
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The Kiwis required at least one batsman to consolidate and guide the chase but lost wickets at regular intervals from both the ends. Jesse Ryder – he top-scored with 33 – and Martin Guptill kept the side in the hunt for a phase but the pressure created by the persistent South African bowling and sharp fielding led to their dismissals. Guptil, striking with a hint of desperation against off-spinner Johan Botha, holed out. Ryder, charging Botha, was done in by flight and loop.
The talented Ross Taylor threatened briefly before being wonderfully taken by Gibbs – the South African was exceptional on the field – at mid-wicket off lanky paceman Morne Morkel. The South Africans were on the ball. Dale Steyn, fast and furious, impressed in particular.
Earlier, Albie Morkel's hitting was awesome. Irrespective of the length of the ball, he was striking through the line.
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His strong forearms and a wonderful straight swing of the willow sent the ball into the stands between long-on and long-off. The Kiwi pacemen erred by not bowling short-of-a-good-length at him. Albie thrived.
Indeed, Albie and de Villiers took the game away from New Zealand. The Kiwi bowling bled towards the end after crafty left-arm spinner Daniel Vettori had bowled bowled beautifully. The last six overs fetched the South Africans a whopping 70 runs.
Albie was destructive. He bludgeoned Tim Southee for three sixes in the 19th over. The Kiwi paceman, striving for yorkers, erred in his length. He was punished.
The South African dismissed Southee over long-on. Then, he struck two majestic sixes down the ground.
Even Vettori, well as he bowled, did not escape punishment. Albie's six off the Kiwi skipper over long-off was a clean, uncomplicated strike.
Importantly, Albie picked his spots in the arena and played to his strength. de Villiers' 39-ball unbeaten 47 was a pleasing effort. The duel between the fleet-footed South African and the canny Vettori was an engaging one. The left-arm spinner altered his length while varying his pace to keep de Villiers guessing. But then, de Villiers is a versatile batsman and he collected runs with deft placements – his ability to play the ball late is his ally – and the occasional big hit.
In fact, the South Africans did well as a batting group. Gibbs dazzled for a while, smacking seamer Jacob Oram for a meaty straight six and then sweeping off-spinner Niel McCullum over mid-wicket. He eventually fell top-edging an attempted swipe off the off-spinner. Jacques Kallis blazed away at the start after South Africa elected to bat. He top-edged spearhead Shane Bond for a six. He then thumped the paceman past point. Bond was not allowed to settle down.
Kallis fell to a spectacular diving catch at third man by Southee after cutting Oram uppishly. Graeme Smith, whipping one, was earlier held at deep mid-wicket off Southee.
This was an afternoon when the depth in South Africa's batting came to the fore. Albie was brilliant.
Brief Scores:
South Africa: 170 for four in 20 overs (AB de Villiers 47 not out, Albie Morkel 40; Jacob Oram 1/22).
New Zealand: 157 for seven in 20 overs (Jesse Ryder 33, Nathan MCCullum 26 not out; Morne Morkel 2/27).