New Zealand vs South Africa, 2019 World Cup: Kane key in chase after sudden dismissals
New Zealand vs South Africa, Match 25, 2019 World Cup: Hello and welcome to our live coverage of Match 25 of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 between New Zealand and South Africa live from Edgbaston in Birmingham.The toss of the World Cup match between New Zealand and South Africa was delayed due to a wet outfield on Wednesday. It is not raining at the moment and there will be an inspection at 10.15am local time. South Africa will look to avenge their 2015 semifinal defeat, while New Zealand will aim to reclaim their position at the top when the two sides clash in Birmingham. [Match scorecard | Live Stream NZ vs SA]
Highlights, World Cup 2019, Match 25: New Zealand beat South Africa by 4 wickets
00.20 IST: Andile Phehlukwayo to Kane Williamson, FOUR! NZ WIN BY 4 WICKETS! And possibly, possibly, have knocked South Africa out of the competition as well. On a length outside off, Williamson goes back in his crease and guides it behind point. The fielder dives to his left but the ball goes through! Time for the handshakes then!
00.18 IST: Andile Phehlukwayo to Kane Williamson, SIX! SLAUGHTERED! That surely should be the game, shouldn't it? Century for Williamson, his 12th in ODIs and probably his most important one.
00.10 IST: Lungi Ngidi to Kane Williamson, IN THE AIR...AND JUST SHORT. Slower delivery on middle, Williamson ends up chipping it back towards the bowler. Ngidi dives in front but it falls agonizingly short of him.
* Mitchell Santner walks out to bat now. 14 needed off 11 balls now. He will be at the non striker's end.
00.08 IST: Lungi Ngidi to Colin de Grandhomme, OUT! Is the match turning in South Africa's favour here? Ngidi smartly takes the pace off the ball. He bowls it full, de Grandhomme looks to clear long off but he gets outfoxed by the change of pace and ends up hitting it to the man there.
00.03 IST: Lungi Ngidi to Colin de Grandhomme, FOUR! Swung hard, Miller dives at deep mid-wicket but misses. Rabada dives from behind but misses too.
00.01 IST: Chris Morris to Colin de Grandhomme, FOUR! FIFTY FOR DE GRANDHOMME! This is one of the most vital knocks he has played. This shot was coming wasn't it? Good length ball on off, de Grandhomme drags it over mid-wicket. There is no one in the deep so he gets a boundary. Only his second ODI fifty but what a time to get it. The job is not done yet and he now needs to take his side over the line now. NZ 226/5 in 45 overs
22.36 IST: Kagiso Rabada to Colin de Grandhomme, SIX! That was six the moment he hit it! Rabada is guilty of bowling it on a length once again, de Grandomme picks it early and whacks his pull over mid-wicket for a maximum.
22.27 IST: Kagiso Rabada to Colin de Grandhomme, EDGE AND FOUR! Good length ball on off, de Grandhomme looks to play it straight but gets a thick outside edge which flies past the keeper and to the third man fence for a boundary.
23.16 IST: Andile Phehlukwayo to Colin de Grandhomme, FOUR! A slower one, bit fuller and outside off, Colin goes for the drive but gets a thick outside edge and the ball races away to the fence for four. Blackcaps are way lucky here, everything is going their way now.
23.10 IST: Kagiso Rabada to Colin de Grandhomme, EDGE AND FOUR! Good length ball on off, de Grandhomme looks to play it straight but gets a thick outside edge which flies past the keeper and to the third man fence for a boundary.
23.04 IST: Chris Morris to Colin de Grandhomme, Another brilliant effort from Markram. Full outside off, de Grandhomme drives it towards point. Marram dives to his left and takes the pace off the ball. The ball goes towards sweeper cover and the batsmen get just one.
22.56 IST: Andile Phehlukwayo to Jimmy Neesham, FOUR! No need of luck this time. This one has come right off the meat. Full on off, it is slightly overpitched. Neesham takes the toll on it and smashes it through mid on for a boundary. NZ 136/4 in 31.5 overs
22.52 IST: Andile Phehlukwayo to Kane Williamson, EDGE AND FOUR! Good length ball outside off, Williamson looks to cut but it goes off the bottom edge to the right of Amla at first slip. He dives but it is in vain and that brings up the 50-run stand between the two. Lucky boundary but New Zealand will take it.
22.47 IST: Andile Phehlukwayo to Kane Williamson, Outside off on a length, Kane looks to cut but gets an inside edge which goes down the fine leg region. De Kock runs behind the ball and pulls it back before the ropes. Two runs taken.
22.40 IST: Imran Tahir to Kane Williamson, Full and around middle and off, worked through mid on for one more. HALF CENTURY FOR WILLIAMSON. His 39th in ODIs. The accumulator.
22.35 IST: Imran Tahir to Jimmy Neesham, FOUR! SLAP! Full and outside off, Neesham gets down and mows the slog sweep over mid-wicket! One bounce into the fence. 129 more needed from 131 balls now. The stand moves to 33 from 54 balls.
22.25 IST: Chris Morris to Kane Williamson, FOUR! Another glorious shot from the New Zealand skipper. Fuller and onto the off stump, Williamson times it perfectly and hits it straight towards long on for a classy boundary.
22.23 IST: Chris Morris to Jimmy Neesham, FOUR! Fine way to get off the mark! Short and outside off, Neesham punches this through point and finds the boundary!
22.18 IST: Chris Morris to Tom Latham, OUT! The fourth one is back in the hut for New Zealand and they are in all sorts of trouble here. Morris hits the deck hard on a length. He is able to generate the extra bounce off the surface. The ball also moves away after pitching. Latham looks to defend but gets a feather of an outside edge back towards the keeper. De Kock takes a dolly behind. New Zealand are making a mess of this chase and one can say South Africa are well on top here. Ultra Edge confirms a slight spike when the ball passes the bat.
22.07 IST: Imran Tahir to Kane Williamson, FOUR! Cut and cut fine! Short and wide outside off, Williamson cuts it wide of first slip and down the third man region for a boundary.
21.59 IST: Chris Morris to Ross Taylor, OUT! Big wicket for New Zealand. Ross Taylor has gone off to a very poor ball. It is a nothing ball, full on the pads, Taylor looks to flick but gets an inside edge which flicks his pad and goes behind to Quinton de Kock. He takes an easy catch and is all smiles as he takes it. The South African players are ecstatic and New Zealand in deep waters here. They have lost three wicket and all three have been somewhat of a bizarre dismissal.
DRINKS BREAK. Just the wicket needed by South Africa going into the break. Faf du Plessis is all smiles as he gets his team into a huddle. This is not going as per plan for the Saffas and they need Williamson quickly. They will be banking on Imran Tahir to run through the Kiwi middle order but they need their seamers to step up. New Zealand, on the other hand, have done reasonably well to lose 2 wickets in this phase. Williamson has got his eye in and he will now look to consolidate along with Ross Taylor.
21.44 IST: Andile Phehlukwayo to Martin Guptill, OUT! HIT WICKET! This is funny and unlucky. Depends who you support. Phehlukwayo bangs it in short on the body, the ball keeps big on Guptill. He looks to pull but turns 360 degree while doing so. The ball goes through mid-wicket but hang on a minute, Guptill is walking back. NZ 72/2 in 15 overs
21.39 IST: Andile Phehlukwayo to Kane Williamson, FOUR! Short on the body, Williamson pulls it down the fine leg region and gets an easy boundary.
21.33 IST: Andile Phehlukwayo to Kane Williamson, FOUR! Class, just pure class! Slightly overpitched on off, Williamson gets on his front foot and drives it with elegance through covers for a boundary. Brings up the 50-run stand between the two.
21.25 IST: Andile Phehlukwayo to Martin Guptill, FOUR! Not at all where Guptill wanted to play it but gets the desired result. Good length ball on off, Martin looks to play the off drive but gets a big inside edge and the ball goes through mid-wicket for a boundary. SA 50/1 in 11.3 overs
21.20 IST: Andile Phehlukwayo to Kane Williamson, Phehlukwayo starts with a good length ball on off, Williamson punches it but finds the man at cover. SA 45/1 in 10.3 overs
21.17 IST: Morris is not happy with the landing area and he has asked the umpire to put some sawdust in that area. The umpire signals the groundstaff and we will have a short halt here.
21.12 IST: Kagiso Rabada to Kane Williamson, Back of a length ball on off, Williamson stands tall and punches it through covers. Markram gives it a chase and pulls it back before the ropes. He saves one run for his side as the batsmen come back for the third.
21.02 IST: Lungi Ngidi to Martin Guptill, FOUR! Chipped! Full around off, Guptill gets close to the ball and drives it over covers. He does not time it well but times it well enough to send it over the fielder and to the fence for a boundary.
20.59 IST: Ngidi to Guptill, FOUR! Third boundary off the over. Once again Ngidi is guilty of bowling it full on off, Guptill has no problem playing the off drive again to bag another boundary. NZ 31/1 in 5.5 overs
20.58 IST: Ngidi to Guptill, FOUR! Oh that is gorgeous! Full on off, Guptill drives it excellently through mid off for a boundary. NZ 27/1 in 5.4 overs
20.57 IST: Ngidi to Guptill, FOUR! Much better from Guptill. Good length ball on the pads, Guptill rather than going after the bowler he flicks it with ease through mid-wicket for a boundary. NZ 23/1 in 5.2 overs
20.52 IST: Kagiso Rabada to Kane Williamson, On the pads, Williamson flicks it, the ball goes to the left of de Kock. He dives but cannot stop the ball. The batsmen take two as the fielder cleans it up before the ropes.
* Skipper, Kane Williamson walks out at number 3. He has been in good form in this World Cup and his team needs him to deliver once again today.
20.44 IST: Rabada to Munro, OUT! Soft, soft dismissal this. Munro was looking so good but he has missed out on an opportunity to make the most of it here. Good length ball pitching on middle and leg and coming in with the angle. Munro looks to defend but it takes the inside edge and lobs up to the side off the pitch after ricocheting off his pad. NZ 12/1 in 2.2 overs
20.41 IST: Lungi Ngidi to Colin Munro, Almost chopped on! Good length ball outside off, Munro looks to cut but it goes off the inside edge over the stumps towards backward square and they take a run.
* The returning, Lungi Ngidi to bowl from the other end with the second new ball.
20.35 IST: Rabada to Munro, FOUR! Another one and this is even better! This is all about timing. Good length ball on off, Munro just punches it with pure timing through covers to get two boundaries on the trot. NZ 9/0 in 0.5 overs
20.35 IST: Rabada to Munro, FOUR! Cracked away! That is some way to get off the mark. Full outside off, Munro loves to free his arms and he does so brilliantly and smashes it through covers for a boundary. NZ 5/0 in 0.4 overs
* Alright then. 242 to win. Who is your money on? This should be one spicy run chase. Stay tuned. Rabada to bowl with the new ball, Guptill and Munro are out. Let's get started!
20.05 IST: Lockie Ferguson to Rassie van der Dussen, FOUR! 10 runs off the final two balls and South Africa finish on 241/6. A length ball outside off, van der Dussen hammers this straight back down the ground and splits long on and long off!
19.58 IST: Matt Henry to Rassie van der Dussen, SIX! How has that gone all the way? A short ball, around middle, van der Dussen looks to pull but the ball hits the inner half of the bat. Still the ball clears square leg. SA 226/6 in 48 overs
19.55 IST: Lockie Ferguson to Andile Phehlukwayo, OUT! Caught of a full toss. Tell you, this ball is making waves in this tournament. Forget the yorkers. Forget the bouncers. The full toss is the way to go. Pun intended. This is outside off, Phehlukwayo looks to go over mid off but the ball hits the toe end of the bat and lobs to mid off. Simple catch for Kane Williamson who back-tracks at that position.
19.47 IST: Trent Boult to Rassie van der Dussen, FOUR! Powerful strike! Full and around off, van der Dussen hammers it straight back past the bowler and splits long on and long off!
19.40 IST: Lockie Ferguson to David Miller, OUT! In the air, in the air, in the air and taken! New Zealand have got the killer, which might help them evade death. A short ball, outside off, slower in pace, Miller leaps and looks to play the upper cut. He mistimes it and the result is a top edge which flies down towards third man. Trent Boult runs to his left and looks to take the catch with his cupped in reverse fashion. Almost lets it through but manages to hang on. Flashback 2003 World Cup final - anyone remembers the catch Virender Sehwag took to dismiss Adam Gilchrist at deep mid-wicket? That one too, nearly went through his fingers. Big wicket for the Kiwis. 250 might be difficult now.
19.35 IST: Ferguson to Miller, FOUR! Badly lined and it brings up consecutive boundaries for the Proteas. Full and down the leg side, Miller flicks it to the fine leg fence. SA 206/4 in 44.2 overs
19.35 IST: Ferguson to Miller, FOUR! Oh yes. Miller is on the charge. Watch out, New Zealand. Short ball, around middle and leg, David swivels and pulls it through mid-wicket for a boundary! SA 202/4 in 44.1 overs
19.34 IST: Trent Boult to David Miller, SIX! Taking the ariel route! There goes Killer Miller! In his arc and out of the park. SA 197/4 in 43.5 overs
19.30 IST: Matt Henry to Rassie van der Dussen, A short ball, another pull shot played, aerially wide of short mid-wicket, for one. 50-RUN STAND IS UP.
19.23 IST: Santner to Van der Dussen, SIX! Finally! After 10 overs, we get to see a maximum! What a contrast as compared to what happened at Old Trafford yesterday. Rassie has had enough of Santner's flight. Finally looks to go downtown, getting down on a knee and sending it flying over long on! SA 181/4 in 41.3 overs
19.15 IST: Trent Boult to David Miller, A terrific yorker, around middle and leg, Miller slips, loses his balance but manages to flick it through mid-wicket! Once again Colin Munro manning that area gets to the ball and slides to his right, stopping the ball. Two runs taken.
* Trent Boult returns. 7-0-40-1 so far. Not the Boult we know so far. Can he make up for it in his remaining overs?
18.59 IST: Lockie Ferguson to Rassie van der Dussen, JUST MISSES THE STUMPS! A nervy moment for van der Dussen. Outside off, on a length, Rassie looks to punch but the ball takes the bottom edge. Bounces and just goes over the stumps. A quick single taken.
18.48 IST: Colin de Grandhomme to Aiden Markram, OUT! Caught in the deep! So Markram is not a cat with 9 lives. After being given a few lives, he eventually gets out, without making much use of those. A length ball, down the leg side, 126 kph, Markram is down the track to go over the top but is done in by the lack of pace. He is early into the shot and hence gets a leading edge. It carries all the way to sweeper cover where Colin Munro comes running in and takes it reverse cup. Risky attempt, as it was near his waist. Markram falls for just 38.
18.40 IST: Trent Boult to Aiden Markram, FOUR! That has been punished. Wide half volley outside off, Markram leans and drives it through the covers. SA 134/3 in 31.4 overs
18.35 IST: Colin de Grandhomme to Aiden Markram, IN THE AIR, BUT PUT DOWN! Ohh... Trent Boult, off all the people! The man who has defied gravity in the past, cannot quite take a sitter this time around. It is a short ball, around middle and leg, Markram pulls it away but it is going almost straight to the man at long leg. Boult has to cover a small distance to his left and he does so, gets to the ball, looks to take the catch but at the last moment, jumps. Don't know why. The ball hits his palms and then goes down. Two runs taken. Is this the fortune which South Africa needed?
18.32 IST: Mitchell Santner to Aiden Markram, FOUR! LOVELY! Bit of King Kallis in that shot. The long levers, the opening of the chest and the extension of the arms. Beautiful to watch. Tossed up outside off, Markram leans and drives it uppishly, wide of cover, for a boundary!
18.26 IST: Lockie Ferguson to Rassie van der Dussen, On a good length outside off, cutting in sharply, van der Dussen looks to flick but misses and is hit on the thigh pad. He does not know where the ball is and does a 360 degree rotation before understanding that it has gone to point. A leg bye taken.
* Rassie van der Dussen walks in at number 5, replacing Amla.
18.21 IST: OUT! Mitchell Santner to Hashim Amla, OUT! BOWLED! Santner has his man! He was pegging and pegging and pegging away and eventually gets the Mighty Hash. Amla looks to defend a straight ball but is beaten by the dip in flight. That is what such balls do, when they are flighted over the eyeline. It lands around leg, bounces, spins away and hits the top of off stump. A true spinner's delight. Superb. Amla's struggles are over. South Africa 111/3 in 27.4 overs
18.18 IST: Lockie Ferguson to Aiden Markram, IN THE AIR... JUST SHORT! A bit risky from Markram. Short and outside off, Aiden leaps and cuts it uppishly towards point. Martin Guptill at point dives forward but the ball lands just short. Hits his palm and then rolls behind. A run taken.
18.14 IST: Colin de Grandhomme to Hashim Amla, FOUR! Half century for Amla! His first in his last 9 World Cup innings. What a relief for him. Looks at the heavens and then raises his bat to the crowd and the dressing room. Sluggish but important knock. Gets there in dramatic fashion, whipping this aerially, just wide of Matt Henry at mid on who dived to his right but missed it.
17.54 IST: Mitchell Santner to Hashim Amla, The arm ball, sliding in, Amla waits for the ball to come and guides it behind point for a quick single. Colin de Grandhomme returns a wild throw towards the keeper, who dives to his right but still cannot stop it. Luckily for them, there is short fine leg backing up.
17.50 IST: Colin de Grandhomme to Hashim Amla, Huge shout for LBW! Turned down. Williamson has a long chat with the keeper and his bowler but does not take the review. On a good length outside off, nipping back a long way in, Amla misses his flick and is hit on the pads. De Grandhomme roars but Llong cuts it short. Probably too high and also sliding down.
* Also, spinner into the attack for the first time today. Mitchell Santner to roll his arm over.
Drinks Break! New Zealand have got two big wickets of de Kock and du Plessis at the same time they have managed to curtail the runs as well.
17.39 IST: 17.38 IST: Lockie Ferguson to Aiden Markram, FOUR! Markram is off the mark and in a gorgeous fashion. Length delivery on off, Markram's eyes lit up looking at that and he crunches his drive through covers for a boundary. SA 65/2 in 15.4 overs
17.34 IST: Colin de Grandhomme to Aiden Markram, Peach of a ball! Good length ball outside off, it comes in slightly after pitching, Markram looks to play but misses.
* Aiden Markram walks out to bat next, Colin de Grandhomme is into the attack.
17.30 IST: Ferguson to Faf du Plessis, OUT! Timber! Ferguson strikes! Faf who was looking so good out in the middle has to depart. Ferguson steams in and bowls a perfect yorker on middle and off, du Plessis is late to get his bat down and the ball hits the stumps. The captain departs! SA 59/2 in 14 overs
17.27 IST: Ferguson to Faf du Plessis, FOUR! Faf looks to be in the mood today. He gets an overpitched ball on off, du Plessis gets on his front foot and drives it through covers to bring up the 50-run stand between the two. SA 59/1 in 13.4 overs
17.26 IST: Matt Henry to Faf du Plessis, FOUR! Beautifully driven! Full on middle, du Plessis strides out his front foot and drives it gorgeously through mid on for a boundary.
17.21 IST: Lockie Ferguson to Hashim Amla, Full on off, Amla creams it past the diving point fielder and gets two. With that he gets to 8000 ODI runs. Becomes the second-fastest player to reach this milestone.
* Jimmy Neesham brought in!
17.14 IST: A maiden over by Matt Henry.
* Powerplay 2 is signaled. Maximum of four fielders can be outside the circle till the 40th over.
17.08 IST: Trent Boult to Faf du Plessis, FOUR! Second of the over. Good length ball on off, du Plessis gets on the front foot and this time smashes it through covers for a boundary. SA 39/1 in 9.3 overs
17.07 IST: Trent Boult to Faf du Plessis, FOUR! This should get du Plessis going. Fuller than a length on off, Faf gets on the front foot and drives it past the diving mid off fielder for a boundary. Well played! SA 35/1 in 9.1 overs
17.01 IST: Boult to Hashim Amla, FOUR! Down the ground! This is even better. Full on middle, Amla this time drives it sweetly past the diving mid off fielder to get the second boundary off the over. SA 30/1 in 7.4 overs
17.01 IST: Hashim Amla to Boult, FOUR! Smacked away! Boult overpitches it on off, Amla strides out and drives it exquisitely through covers for a boundary. It came right off the middle and the sound it made after connecting was just delicious. SA 26/1 in 7.3 overs
16.59 IST: Matt Henry to Faf du Plessis, Oh, Henry almost got the better of du Plessis. Full on off, du Plessis looks to play the on drive but the ball moves away and flies past the outside edge to the left of third man. Lockie Ferguson at third man runs to his left and dives to stop the ball from going to the fence. He parries it away brilliantly. Saving two runs for his side.
16.53 IST: Trent Boult to Hashim Amla, A very low full toss on the pads. Boult is getting a good amount of inswing here as this one also moved that way. Amla flicks it towards backward square leg. The fielder from fine leg mops it up and the batsmen take two.
16.50 IST: Matt Henry to Hashim Amla, BEATEN! On a good length and outside off, Amla looks to drive but misses it due to the away movement on this one.
BREAKING! Reports have come in that India's Shikhar Dhawan has been ruled out of the World Cup due to a hairline fracture which he picked up during the clash against Australia! Rishabh Pant to replace the opener.
* Bunny alert - This is the fifth occasion that Trent Boult has dismissed Quinton de Kock in ODIs. He has also got Shikhar Dhawan these many times.
16.40 IST: Trent Boult to Faf du Plessis, Almost another calamity for South Africa. Full on off, du Plessis drives it through covers and runs hard. Kane Williamson gives the ball a chase and pulls it before the ropes.
* Aiden Markram is the next batsman in.
16.38 IST: Boult to De Kock, OUT! Timber! The sweet sound of Timber for the bowler! Brilliant start for New Zealand. Boult bowls it full on middle, the ball nips back in to the southpaw after hitting the deck, de Kock looks to play it straight but the ball goes right between his pad and bat. It crashes the leg pole and the leg stumps go for a toss. The dangerous de Kock has to walk back and it is a nightmare of a start for South Africa. SA 9/1 in 1.5 overs
16.35 IST: Boult to De Kock, FOUR! Easy pickings! Boult is now guilty of straying it down the pads, de Kock just eases it down the fine leg region and gets his first boundary of the game. SA 9/0 in 1.3 overs
* Time to get underway. The umpires are out in the middle. The New Zealand players are in a huddle before they take their respective positions on the field. Hashim Amla and Quinton de Kock to open the innings for South Africa. Matt Henry will start the proceedings for New Zealand with the first new ball.
* The players are out in the middle for their respective national anthems. First up it will be South Africa's followed by New Zealand's. We are not far away from the first ball being bowled in this game.
New Zealand win toss, opt to bowl against South Africa in 49-overs per side match in Birmingham
15.39 IST: Good News! The TOSS will take place at 4.00 PM IST and play will resume at 4.30 PM IST.
UPDATE! The umpires have had a look at the outfield and the issue seems to be in the run-up area of the bowlers. The umpires feel that the outfield has improved but it is still wet as it has rained for the best part of the week. So we will have to wait for a bit. The next inspection will be at 1100 Local
15.04 IST: The outfield remains wet and there will be another inspection at 3.30 PM IST
15.00 IST: Shaun Pollock reviews NZ vs SA
14.48 IST: The umpires are out in the middle for pitch inspection.
14.32 IST: TOSS has been delayed due to a wet outfield at Edgbaston
Brief preview: South Africa has the chance to visit an unfamiliar place if it beats New Zealand: The top half of the World Cup table. It won't be easy. Unbeaten New Zealand has an even bigger incentive in their game on Wednesday at Birmingham's raucous Edgbaston ground. A win will move the Black Caps back to the very top of the 10-team standings. New Zealand knocked South Africa out of the last two World Cups — the quarterfinals in Dhaka in 2011 and a classic ODI semifinal in Auckland in 2015 where Grant Elliott hit a six off the penultimate ball. [Read full preview here]
