New Zealand have taken control of the ICC T20 World Cup semifinal against the Proteas at Eden Gardens in Kolkata.
The Proteas lost two wickets in the Powerplay and have since lost three more by the end of the 12th over.
Captain Aiden Markram (18) fell to a contentious catch in the deep by Daryll Mitchell before David Miller (6) and Dewald Brevis (34) fell in quick succession to Rachin Ravindra and Jimmy Neesham.
Off-spinner Cole McConchie struck a double blow in his first over to peg back the Proteas in the first powerplay.
McConchie (1/9) removed the dangerous Quinton de Kock (10) when the veteran wicket-keeper chipped a long-hop to Lochie Ferguson at mid-off.
The Black Caps were celebrating the very next ball when new batter Ryan Rickleton cut a wide delivery from McConchie straight to Finn Allen at point to leave the Proteas reeling at 12/2 after the second over.
The Proteas could have been in deeper trouble had Rachin Ravindra held on to a chance offered by Aiden Markram the following over, but the skipper was offered a reprieve.
Markram has since made the Kiwi rue the missed opportunity with a boundary and a six, while Dewald Brevis counter-attacked with consecutive boundaries off Jimmy Neesham, who conceded 17 runs in his only over.
The Proteas have since moved on to 48/2 at the conclusion of the opening Powerplay.
Lochie Ferguson prepares to take a catch as Proteas opener Quinton de Kock departs Eden Gardens in the ICC T20 World Cup semi-final in Kolkata.
New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner had earlier won the toss and elected to insert the Proteas.
“We gonna have a bowl, the pitch looked pretty good the other night,” said Santner.
“We know they are a great outfit and we know we gotta be on. We need to do our thing put them under pressure and see what happens. Matt Henry has made it back in time. So he is there. Neesham is back.”
The Proteas have made three changes from the XI that beat Zimbabwe in their final Super Eight group match with Kagiso Rabada, Keshav Maharaj and Marco Jansen returning to the starting XI.
“Everyone contributed at some stage which is really pleasing. Hopefully we can start well with the bat and put a good score on the board,” Markram said.
“We trained here last night and putting runs on the board in a knock-out game is not the worst thing.”
Proteas captain Aiden Markram and his New Zealand counterpart Mitchell Santner at the toss.
The Proteas are on an unbeaten run stretching seven matches heading into the semis, while the Kiwis have endured a trickier road to the playoffs.
Markram’s men trounced the Black Caps by seven wickets in the group stages. New Zealand’s performances in the Super Eights were equally less convincing with their Pakistan clash rained out before beating co-hosts Sri Lanka.
Santner’s men were unable to maintain the momentum, though, as they lost their next match to England, which resulted in agonising wait for the result of the final Super Eights clash between Sri Lanka and Pakistan to determine their progression to the semi-finals.
TEAMS FOR EDEN GARDENS
New Zealand: Tim Seifert (wk), Finn Allen, Rachin Ravindra, Glenn Phillips, Mark Chapman, Daryl Mitchell, Jimmy Neesham, Mitchell Santner (capt), Cole McConchie, Matt Henry, Lockie Ferguson.
South Africa:Quinton de Kock (wk), Aiden Markram (capt), Ryan Rickelton, Dewald Brevis, David Miller, Tristan Stubbs, Marco Jansen, Corbin Bosch, Kagiso Rabada, Keshav Maharaj, Lungi Ngidi.
Toss Update 🪙
🇳🇿 New Zealand have won the toss and elected to Bowl first.
🔁 Three changes for #TheProteas as Anrich Nortje, Kwena Maphaka and George Linde make way for Marco Jansen, Kagiso Rabada, and Keshav Maharaj.
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