In the first semi-final of the ICC T20 World Cup, New Zealand defeated South Africa by 9 wickets and made it to the final thanks to aggressive batting and organised bowling. In this important match played in Kolkata, the Kiwi team easily achieved the target of 170 runs with 43 balls to spare for the loss of just one wicket.
The match started with South Africa batting; however, the Proteas’ top order could not withstand the pressure in a big match once again. Captain Adam Markram was dismissed for just 18 runs while Quinton de Kock was restricted to 10 runs. David Miller could only score 6 runs, and Ryan Rickelton returned to the pavilion without opening his account. The early wickets fell, and the team came under pressure, and the run rate was also affected.
In difficult times, Marco Janssen batted responsibly and scored an unbeaten 55 runs. He supported the team by coming in the lower order and played an important role in taking the score to 169. Apart from them, Dewald Brews scored 34 and Tristan Stubbs 29 runs. South Africa scored 169 runs for the loss of 8 wickets in the stipulated 20 overs, which was considered a medium target in a big match like the semi-finals.
The discipline in bowling from New Zealand was remarkable. Cole McConkie, Matt Henry and Rachan Ravindra took two wickets each while Lockie Ferguson and Jimmy Neesham took one wicket each. The Kiwi bowlers kept the run rate in check in the middle overs and prevented South Africa from reaching a total of more than 180.
In pursuit of the target, New Zealand adopted an aggressive strategy from the beginning. Opener Finn Allen performed brilliantly, scoring an unbeaten century off just 33 balls. His innings included 10 fours and 8 sixes, and he played free shots against every bowler. His batting completely changed the course of the match and left the South African bowlers helpless.
Tim Seifert also contributed well and scored 58 runs, although he was the only player to be dismissed. Rachan Ravindra remained not out with 13 runs and played a role in leading the team to an easy victory. New Zealand completed the target before the 19th over and entered the final with this one-sided victory.
According to cricket experts, Finn Allen’s innings will be considered one of the memorable innings of the T20 World Cup. In a high-pressure match like the semi-final, such a fast and confident century is enough to boost the team’s morale. On the other hand, South Africa once again failed to make it to the knockout stage, which is disappointing for its fans.
The match played at the Kolkata ground provided the fans with the best view of fast-paced cricket, but the result was completely in New Zealand’s favour. Now the Kiwi team will enter the final to win the title, and the fans are expecting another thrilling match.
