South Africa batter New Zealand by 190 runs

Centuries by Quinton de Kock and Rassie van der Dussen and a disciplined bowling display by the pace quartet saw South Africa crush New Zealand by 190 runs in a World Cup league match played at the Maharashtra CA ground in Pune, Wednesday.

South Africa’s top order batters repeated their heroics once again with De Kock notching up his fourth century of the tournament, Van der Dussen his second of the competition and David Miller providing the finishing touches to the innings as the Proteas posted a mammoth 357-4 after being invited to bat first. It was the eighth consecutive time South Africa had gone past the 300-run mark while batting first this year.

Then South Africa’s pace quartet tightened the screws with several dot balls and crucial wickets. Spinner Keshav Maharaj benefitted from most of the pressure to pick up four wickets. Glenn Phillips hammered a quickfire 60 off 50 balls (4 fours, 4 sixes) but by then South Africa had all but closed the game.  

South Africa lost their captain Temba Bavuma early in the innings, but that brought together de Kock and van der Dussen who went onto add 200 runs for the second wicket both profiteering from dropped chances.

De Kock brought up his 21st overall 100 in ODIs off 103 balls and went on to make 114 off 116 balls. Although not the most fluent of knocks he hit 10 fours and three sixes. Van der Dussen reached his sixth overall century, striking nine fours and five sixes in his 133 off 118 balls.  

Thanks largely to the de Kock-van der Dussen stand, South Africa scored as many as 190 runs in the second PowerPlay (11-40 overs), setting base for the big hits in the death overs. David Miller, who hit two fours and four sixes in his 30-ball 53 enabled South Africa to finish their innings off in style with 119 runs coming in the final 10 overs. Concern for New Zealand was that fast bowler Matt Henry hurt his right hamstring and did not return to bowl.

Scores: South Africa 357-4 (50) (Quinton de Kock 114, Temba Bavuma 24, Rassie van der Dussen 133, David Miller 53, Tim Southee 2/77)

New Zealand 167 (35.3) (Will Young 33, Daryl Mitchell 24, Glenn Phillips 60, Marco Jansen 3/31, Gerald Coetzee 2/41, Keshav Maharaj 4/46)