Nowhere to Hide for Hosts
Wednesday, February 19 2003
New Zealand has won a vital group match in Johannesburg last night, all but assuring their passage to the Super Six stage of the World Cup. In a rain affected match, the Black Caps surged towards victory thanks to a superb captain’s knock of 134 not out from Stephen Fleming.
Shaun Pollock called correctly and elected to bat in cloudy conditions, knowing that rain will at some stage intervene. As Jonty Rhodes made his way home after suffering a hand injury, young batting prodigy Graeme Smith was drafted into the squad, and ultimately given the task of opening the batting with Herschelle Gibbs.
The Proteas made a bright start, especially Smith, who dominated proceedings early by hitting Shane Bond for three consecutive 4’s. Gibbs was at his attacking best playing some calculated slogs, along with caressing drives and cuts. Smith was caught sensationally by Nathan Astle at second slip off a no-ball in Bonds opening over. In his good fortune, Smith consolidated, especially against Bond, who was bowling erratically to put it lightly.
In the tenth over, South Africa needlessly lost their first wicket of Smith, trying to hook Bond over the boundary, only succeeding in skying a catch to Brendan McCullum behind the stumps. Smith departed for a run a ball 23, which showed some potential.
Nicky Boje has two one day international centuries against New Zealand, batting up the order, and Pollock showed some faith in the gritty left arm spinner to put him in as a pinch-hitter. The Proteas continued on scoring at a healthy run rate, with Gibbs doing most of the damage, with Boje giving a helping hand.
Boje was beaten all ends up by a Scott Styris leg-cutter, and was bowled through the gate, for 29. Jacques Kallis also gave Gibbs some handy support with 33 before he tried to smash Daniel Vettori over in the in-field, but gave Lou Vincent a sharp chance at cover.
Wicketkeeper Mark Boucher was also sent in up the order, and played a tiny cameo of 10 off 10. He was well caught down at long on by Chris Cairns off Jacob Oram. That brought the dangerous Lance Klusener to the wicket, who has an average of over 100 in World Cup’s, at the extraordinary strike rate of 120.
As Gibbs posted his century, the Proteas continued to set a mammoth total. However, it could be seen that Gibbs was tiring, and ultimately played a lazy hoick over square leg, where Craig McMillan was fielding, and was relieved to have held onto the important wicket. Gibbs played a fluent knock, which ended on 143, leaving his side in the impregnable position of 5-260 with five overs left.
Klusener continued to show his flare, scoring a rapid 33 not out. Pollock skied a full toss from Andre Adams to Oram for 10, while genuine opener Gary Kirsten came in at the death to push his way to 5.
The Proteas finished off with a satisfying 306, with the Kiwi bowling reading some bad news. Bond was erratic, and Adams was inconsistent. Vettori was unlucky, when his last over was taken to the cleaners by Klusener, but finished up with the dirty figures of 1-58 off 10. Styris was relatively tight taking 1-44 off 10, and Oram tried valiantly and finished with 2-52 off 8. A commanding total one would think, but who could have imagined the events to come in this match!?
The Black Caps have experimented with their opening batting partnership, with Vettori, Astle and now McMillan used to accompany Stephen Fleming. But to his credit, McMillan was impressive, taking the fight back to Makhaya Ntini and Pollock. At the other end, Stephen Fleming was playing the innings of his life. He was surprisingly aggressive, playing some memorable slashes over cover and point.
The first wicket fell in the 15th over, when McMillan edged a full delivery to Boucher, who was delighted to accept the catch. The South African gloveman who has been picture perfect with his keeping over the years, dropped a sitter when Kallis produced the edge of Fleming’s blade, and typically was livid with himself at making such an uncharacteristic mistake. Do you remember Herschelle Gibbs and Steve Waugh in 99?
However, there was no sledge from Fleming, as he played the most amazing innings from a captain in New Zealand one day history. Combining successfully with Astle, the two set the field alight with some sizzling stroke play.
After a rain interruption for over an hour, Duckworth Lewis was forced to enter the scene again, and reduced the target to 226 off 39 overs. It didn’t matter to Stephen Fleming and the Kiwis, as they continued to slay the bowling. Shaun Pollock simply had no answer to the onslaught, and could only applaud as Fleming brought up his hundred from 109 balls. Astle too played a superb fifty to edge his team home to a remarkable victory.
The winning runs came in the form of a boundary, ironically hit by Fleming, who capped off the fairytale run chase. The New Zealand team stormed the field in celebration, embracing their gutsy skipper who hit a brilliant captain’s knock.
This victory puts the Black Caps in a strong position to make the Super Six stage, while the Proteas have to have a hard look at themselves, and reassess their future in the competition.
New Zealand won convincingly in the end, with 9 wickets in hand, and 13 balls remaining, and it is fair to say that the World Cup is certainly alive and well.
SOUTH AFRICA
6-306 (H. Gibbs, 143, L. Klusener, 33*, J. Kallis, 33)
– J. Oram, 2-52
NEW ZEALAND
1-229 (S.Fleming, 134*, N. Astle, 54*, C. McMillan, 25)
– A Donald, 1-52
Posted by Dominic
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