DHAKA – New Zealand stunned South Africa on Friday by knocking the form team out of the World Cup in the third quarter-final. South Africa have now lost all five of their knockout matches since they first played at the tournament in 1992 while underdogs New Zealand advance to the semi-finals for the sixth time.
Man-of-the-match Jacob Oram took two brilliant catches and captured four for 39 with his nagglingly accurate medium pace after the South Africans appeared to be cruising to victory in pursuit of a modest victory target of 222. The South Africans had reached 108 for two shortly before the halfway point with their premier batsman Jacques Kallis well set on 47.
But Kallis was magnificently caught on the boundary by Oram off Tim Southee, JP Duminy was bowled for three and AB de Villiers run out two balls later for 35. New Zealand, who had fielded tenaciously and bowled with spirit, piled on the pressure with Oram snapping up two more quick wickets. Faf du Plessis, who was dropped by Oram on 29, hit New Zealander for six off the next ball before holing out to Southee for 36.
Morne Morkel (3) was the last man to fall as South Africa collapsed for 172 off 43.2 overs. Jesse Ryder anchored the New Zealand innings with 83, his maiden World Cup half-century. But although the Kiwis became the only team in the tournament to bat through their overs against South Africa their eventual total of 221 for eight seemed well short of a challenging total. New Zealand will now meet the winners of Saturday’s quarter-final between Sri Lanka and England in Colombo next Tuesday.
