Player of the Match
Player of the Match

10:42pm That will be all from us for today. We will be back tomorrow with more cricket (of course we will), and we hope to have your company then. Until next time, this is me (Shashwat) signing off on behalf of Sudeep and everyone else here at ESPNcricinfo. Ciao!

Aiden Markram, South Africa captain: Important that we got on the right side of the toss. Ball came on nicely (in the second innings). Boys put up a strong effort (to restrict them to that score). You have to try and back the skills you are good at. (On NZ's opening pair) Very dangerous and intimidating, but the boys were solid with their plans tonight. (On Jansen) Very different left-arm (bowler), bowls different types of deliveries. He has been bowling well, but did not have the numbers to show for it. (On his batting) It is nice. Ultimately, it is trying to get the team off to a good start. We have a nice and experienced batting order. Up front, you have seen how teams are taking off in the powerplay. Might not come off always but when it does, you can get ahead of the game.

Mitchell Santner, New Zealand captain: Wickets in the powerplay is always key. Probably a bit below par but it was a little sticky too. Different grounds, so you need to be adapting. We pride ourselves on that. The communication is key between batters and bowlers. We were put under pressure in the powerplay, so finding ways to get out of overs, still staying aggressive and taking wickets. We had a good series against India. Any time you can play India in these conditions (leading up to a World Cup), it is good prep. Came up against a good team tonight. (How they plan for teams they do not play often) That is a challenge. We have played with and against them (South Africa) a lot. We will do a lot of video scouting on Canada. No easy games in the tournament and we know that will be the case in a couple of days' time.

Marco Jansen, Player of the Match: We know it is a good wicket. (Their) Opening batters show great intent, so we knew we had to pick wickets up front. Slower balls into the wicket worked well and obviously the yorkers. Bowling in the powerplay and at the death is not easy. You take it as it comes. You try and adapt and try and make the most of it. The bowlers did well - Kesh(av Maharaj) through the middle. Our seamers complement each other well. With the plans we had, it was very good and we executed well. Lot of guys who play in the IPL, so a lot of knowledge. Treating every game as it comes, seeing who we are playing against and taking it from there.

10:20pm Talk about a statement performance. There were a few murmurs the other day, around how SA were not at their clinical best and were loose in their execution. Nothing of that sort tonight, though, as they flexed their muscles to show just why they are worthy contenders. Markram, through a jaw-dropping display of stroke-play, led the way, tearing NZ to shreds inside the powerplay. Brevis, de Kock, Miller and Rickelton all played cameos, ensuring that SA did not wither away their early advantage.

An evening to forget for NZ. They were short of a par score and they did not help themselves with the lines and lengths they bowled. It was either in the slot or too short and once SA came hard at them, it was a long road back for the Kiwis.

17.1
6
Ferguson to Miller, SIX, a cracking thump over deep mid wicket, and SA take a giant stride towards qualification! Not the greatest of balls. A half-tracker on the stumps and Miller says thank you very much. Wallops it clean over cow corner and that is a fitting way to end what was a thoroughly bruising and comprehensive run-chase!

Just four needed now

END OF OVER:
17 | 10 Runs | SA: 172/3 (4 runs required from 18 balls, RR: 10.11, RRR: 1.33)

  • David Miller18 (16b)
  • Aiden Markram86 (44b)
  • Matt Henry4-0-38-0
  • Jacob Duffy3-0-50-0
16.6
1
Henry to Miller, 1 run, slower ball banged into the track on off. Miller swats it towards deep mid wicket. Settles for a single but he and Henry end up in a tangle at the bowler's end as the throw comes in. All smiles, though

MAB: "Are we really going to witness a century in this world cup? I highly doubt it." -- Have a sneaky feeling we might get one either tomorrow or day after.

16.5
1
Henry to Markram, 1 run, slower ball on a length, cutting back into the hips. Markram glances it towards deep backward square leg
16.4
1
Henry to Miller, 1 run, short outside off. Miller rocks back and laces a pull straight to deep mid wicket
16.3
1
Henry to Markram, 1 run, more overthrows. Full on middle and off. Markram drives it to mid off. Miller seems to make it back but another errant throw allows a single
16.2
1
Henry to Miller, 1 run, cutter on a back of a length outside off. Miller wafts at it and edges it down to short third
16.1
5
Henry to Markram, 5 runs, oh dear - the wheels are coming off now! Slower ball on a back of a length on middle stump. Markram bunts it past the bowler and it seems only a single is on. But Santner, after fielding it, hurls a throw at the batter's end and Seifert fails to gather. No one backing up either, and SA get four buzzers!

Patel: "Does not make sense for SouthAfrica to slow down. They always panic when it becomes a close game. SA should put a rule in team,finish it off always before 10 balls. " -- Don't think there is a lot of pressure in this particular chase. SA doing it at a canter at the moment. Henry back on

END OF OVER:
16 | 14 Runs | SA: 162/3 (14 runs required from 24 balls, RR: 10.12, RRR: 3.50)

  • Aiden Markram79 (41b)
  • David Miller15 (13b)
  • Jacob Duffy3-0-50-0
  • Mitchell Santner4-0-33-0
15.6
1
Duffy to Markram, 1 run, angled in full on the pads. Markram chips it towards long on and keeps strike
15.5
1
Duffy to Miller, 1 run, bashed into the track outside off. Gets a little higher than the previous attempt and Miller swats it to long on

South Africa 2nd innings Partnerships

WktRunsPlayers
1st62Q de KockAK Markram
2nd40AK MarkramRD Rickelton
3rd29AK MarkramD Brevis
4th47DA MillerAK Markram

ICC Men's T20 World Cup

Super Eights, Group 1
TeamMWLPTNRR
SA33062.259
IND32140.106
WI31220.993
ZIM3030-3.415
Super Eights, Group 2
TeamMWLPTNRR
ENG33061.096
NZ31131.39
PAK3113-0.123
SL3030-1.95
Group A
TeamMWLPTNRR
IND44082.5
PAK43160.976
USA42240.788
NED4132-1.217
NAM4040-3.108
Group B
TeamMWLPTNRR
ZIM43071.506
SL43161.741
AUS42241.523
IRE41230.15
OMA4040-4.845
Group C
TeamMWLPTNRR
WI44081.874
ENG43160.201
SCOT41320.184
ITA4132-1.02
NEP4132-1.349
Group D
TeamMWLPTNRR
SA44081.943
NZ43161.227
AFG42240.889
UAE4132-1.364
CAN4040-2.426