South Africa vs New Zealand in World Twenty20 Super Eight
If South Africa can be accused of squandering golden opportunities at ICC tournaments, then it is equally valid to contend that New Zealand are the side that have made the most of theirs.
Between them, the Proteas and the Blackcaps have won a total of two ICC trophies in the combined histories of the World Cup, Champions Trophy and World Twenty20 competitions: South Africa the Champions Trophy in 1998 and New Zealand the same title two years later.
For the Kiwis, it’s not such a bad result. Never a side that would dominate in any international team of the year honours, New Zealand are instead a team that extracts every drop of talent from the available players.
It’s an approach that took them to the final of the Champions Trophy in South Africa last year, which was won by Australia, while the hosts embarrassingly tumbled out of contention in the group stage.
Fortunately for South Africa, they’ve not been anointed as favourites in the Caribbean so can at least take to the field in their Super Eight matches without that monkey clinging resolutely to their backs.
In Dale Steyn, they have another fast bowler cast in the same intimidating mould as the likes of Allan Donald, while against Afghanistan Morne Morkel proved he wasn’t just second fiddle to the Proteas pace spearhead, claiming 4-20. Charl Lengeveldt also contributed an impressive 3-12 in that match.
There’s no question then, that the South Africa pace attack are firing. In the same match, however, the Proteas batsmen were strangely subdued. Jacques Kallis followed his 73 against India with 34 from 33 against Afghanistan, like several of his teammates was guilty of laying the foundation but failing to build on it.
A harsh critic might argue that South Africa’s bowlers, who dismissed Afghanistan for 80, made their own 139-run total look more than a little flattering. They won’t want to labour under any illusions that New Zealand, undefeated in the group stage, will do the same should the Proteas batsmen fail to deliver at Bridgetown today.
The powerful Jesse Ryder marked his return from injury with 42 from 27 in the Blackcaps opening group match against Sri Lanka, while fellow opener Brendan McCullum was just getting started with his unbeaten 22 against Zimbabwe when rain and the Duckworth/Lewis method delivered New Zealand victory at Providence Stadium.
That was enough, however, for McCullum to become the first batsman in Twenty20 Internationals to break the 1000-run barrier. Add Ross Taylor and all-rounder Jacob Oram to the mix, and South Africa can ill afford to get complacent in this match.
And while South Africa have Steyn and Morkel to supply their pace and bounce, New Zealand’s Shane Bond should be relishing the prospect of the faster pitch at Kensington Oval, while off-spinner Nathan McCullum will take confidence from his 3-16 against Zimbabwe where he played more than a supporting role to Daniel Vettori.
Graeme Smith’s side though enter the match against New Zealand today having won three out of the four Twenty20 Internationals the sides have played, and with every reason to be confident of improving on that record, if they can lift their batting in this match.
Prediction: The assembled talent in the South Africa squad should get them off to a winning start in the Super Eight.
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