New Zealand stormed into the T20 World Cup final after thrashing South Africa at Eden Gardens. Cole McConchie struck twice in a crucial over to derail the Proteas before Finn Allen smashed a stunning 33-ball century — the fastest hundred in World Cup history — sealing a dominant win
SA players wear a dejected look after their loss to NZ in Kolkata on Wednesday. Pic/Getty Images
Well before some huge hits saw New Zealand sail past South Africa at the Eden Gardens on Wednesday, there was a telling ‘hit-and-run’ at the venue.
Cole McConchie, who has hardly bowled in this T20 World Cup, dismissed both Quinton de Kock and Ryan Rickelton in the very second over of the match and ‘disappeared,’ finishing with figures of 2-9 off that only over. The Proteas never quite recovered from those blows, managing a below-par 169-8.
“Our bowlers set the game up for us for sure,” said Man of the Match Finn Allen, who had a rollicking opening partnership with Tim Seifert and went on to seal victory with a six that had him finish on a 33-ball 100, the fastest century in a World Cup.
Shukri Conrad
“There was a plan for the first two overs and then a free-for-all,” revealed Kiwi captain Mitchell Santner on the McConchie impact.
“We would’ve been in the game had we scraped our way to 190,” felt South African skipper Aiden Markram.
Did the South Africans again choke on the big stage, someone asked head coach Shukri Conrad?
“I don’t know if tonight was a choke. I thought it was a bloody walloping. I think in order for you to choke, you must have had a sniff in the game. We didn’t,” Conrad pointed out even as he mentioned being “proud of these guys; we did so many special things through the tournament.”
It was a good toss to win with all agreeing that the pitch got better with the dew. Allen gave a lot of credit to Seifert for how his own innings shaped. “Timmy started off really strongly, which made it easy for me to settle in. I just looked to play a support role. It’s good fun batting with him,” gushed Allen.
Interestingly, in the context of the upcoming IPL, all three that came out to bat for the Kiwis on Wednesday (Rachin Ravindra being the other) have been roped in by KKR and got a feel of what will soon be their home ground.
Fans had feared a one-sided contest, and they actually got one. Only, the prospective hunter became the hunted.
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This is SA’s biggest defeat at T20 World Cups (by balls remaining)
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South Africa’s loss-win record vs New Zealand in ICC knockout matches
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