Kolkata: In one of the most one-sided games of the T20 World Cup, New Zealand defeated South Africa by nine wickets in the semi-finals at Eden Gardens to reach the final for the second time. After New Zealand spinners cast a spell to restrict South Africa to 169 runs in eight overs, their opener mocked the South African attack to reach 173/1 in just 12.5 overs.
The SA bowlers were found looking for cover and New Zealand openers Tim Seifert and Finn Allen tore them to shreds with a 117-run stand in the 10th over.
Both the players seem to be enjoying playing at the venue that will become their ‘home’ in a few days when they will take part in the upcoming IPL with their new team Kolkata Knight Riders.
While Seifert left with 58 goals (33b, 4×7, 2×6), Allen scored 6 goals from just 33 balls, becoming the fastest 100-goal scorer in the World Cup.
The opener scored his first fifty off 19 balls and completed the next 50 in just 14 balls. KKR’s other batsman Rachin Ravindra remained unbeaten on 13 runs after causing damage and picked up two runs for 29 runs.
The strong South African batting line-up began to struggle, falling to 77 in five overs in the first 11 overs after New Zealand skipper Mitchell Santner decided to bowl after winning the toss.
Santner’s brilliant move to bring in Cole McConchie in the second over of the match proved fruitful, with the off-spinner catching successive passes from left-hander Quinton de Kock and Ryan Rickelton.
The 34-year-old McConchie, who joined New Zealand as a substitute following an injury to Michael Bracewell, was caught in the circle by Rocky Ferguson before de Kock was passed to Rickton who was caught by Allen at the back post.
Things could have been worse for South Africa had Rachin Ravindra not caught Lockie Ferguson’s ball with ease at mid-wicket in the fourth over when captain Aiden Markram was at number three.
However, Ravindra, who came on as the sixth bowler in the eighth over of the match, made amends by having Markram caught by Daryl Mitchell at long-on inches off the ground.
SA may have hoped their fortunes would change when Glenn Phillips struck out David Miller at deep extra cover. But Lachin then got his men to hit four balls, this time with Mitchell easily knocking down a skier from long range. McConchie ended with two wickets in his only over and Lachin took two wickets for 29 in his four overs.
Jason shines
Marco Jansen did well with the bat and chipped in with Tristan Stubbs for the sixth wicket of 73 runs. The duo wasted no time in hitting some big shots and SA lost 5 wickets in the 14th over to reach 100, their slowest in the tournament. Ferguson came back for the second time and finally got the breakthrough by getting Stubbs to throw a nice off-pitch pitch. But Jansen hit back with six straight balls to hit Ferguson and, with the help of two fours and five sixes, made an unbeaten 55 off just 30 balls.
