New Zealand joined India and Pakistan in the World Cup semi-finals today as South Africa collapsed when in command of a straightforward chase in Mirpur.
New Zealand batted cautiously, making 221-8 with Jesse Ryder (83) key.
South Africa were excellent in the field and their varied bowling attack kept the Black Caps pinned down.
When they then reached 108-2 after 24 overs the Proteas seemed to be cruising to victory, but they subsided horribly to be all out for 172.
With Jacques Kallis and AB de Villiers batting so calmly just before the mid-point of the South Africa chase and having stayed ahead of an undemanding required run rate, New Zealand skipper Daniel Vettori must have sensed the worst.
But the game changed dramatically when Kallis, on 47, attacked a gentle long-hop from Tim Southee and unerringly picked out Jacob Oram at deep midwicket.
Seven wickets remained and there was absolutely no reason for South Africa to panic – but they did just that, bringing to mind similarly ignominious exits in the 1999 and 2003 World Cups.
JP Duminy’s questionable stomach for a pressurised situation was called into doubt again as he missed a cut shot against Nathan McCullum and was clean bowled.
Two balls later, things got significantly worse for Graeme Smith’s team as Faf du Plessis called AB de Villiers through for a quick single that simply was never available. Even though Martin Guptill’s return to Brendon McCullum had to be scooped up off the turf, De Villiers was well short of his crease and 102-2 had become 121-5.
The real frustration for South Africa was that De Villiers, the team’s leading scorer in the tournament, had played quite beautifully in making 35 from 40 balls, but with him out New Zealand went from plucky outsiders to warm favourites.
They relished the situation and were ultimately excellent value for their win. Oram bowled Johan Botha, who tentatively playing down the wrong line, before having Robin Peterson caught behind.
Suddenly New Zealand bowlers were queuing up to take wickets, and McCullum grabbed the next one when Dale Steyn queued a catch to point.
For a while, Du Plessis gave South Africa renewed hope, but on 36 he drilled Oram (4-39) to extra cover, leaving World Cup debutant Luke Woodcock to claim the final wicket when Morne Morkel drove a catch to long-on.
Overlooked as serious contenders before the tournament, New Zealand progress to a semi-final in Colombo against either England or Sri Lanka next week in the last four. Andrew Strauss’s team play in the final quarter-final on Friday in Colombo.
