All-round effort carries Proteas to thumping victory over Black Caps

South Africa put one foot in the semi-finals of the Cricket World Cup on Wednesday, producing a superb all-round effort to secure a commanding 190-run victory over fellow title contenders New Zealand in Pune.

Chasing 358 runs to win, the Black Caps top order suffered a collapse as the Proteas bowlers had them stumbling at 90/5 in the 19th over.

And while middle-order batter Glenn Phillips put up a fight in an attempt to hold them together, the Proteas attack did well to rip through the lower order.

They removed New Zealand’s last five wickets for 77 runs (most of which were scored by Phillips) as the Black Caps were bowled out for 167, with South Africa securing their sixth win in seven matches at the global showpiece.

All-rounder Marco Jansen again did well to lead the frontline attack, returning 3/31, but spin bowler Keshav Maharaj stole the show by taking 4/46.

Only three of New Zealand’s players contributed more than 20 runs to their total, with Phillips top-scoring after hitting 60 runs in a solo attempt to fight back.

Proteas innings

Earlier, top-order batters Quinton de Kock and Rassie van der Dussen both scored centuries after the Proteas were sent in to bat, laying a solid foundation as they reached a total of 357/4.

Experienced opener De Kock continued to flaunt his spectacular form, hitting his fourth ton of the tournament as he extended his lead at the top of the scoring charts with 545 runs from seven games.

Captain Temba Bavuma fell for 24 runs in the ninth over, but De Kock then combined in a massive 200-run stand for the second wicket with Van der Dussen.

De Kock was eventually dismissed with 10 overs left in the innings, when he clipped a Tim Southee delivery to Phillips at backward point, after contributing 104 from 106 balls.

Van der Dussen went on to make 133 runs – just one short of his ODI career best – before he too was dismissed by Southee in the 48th over. He faced 118 deliveries, smashing nine fours and five sixes.

Following his dismissal, David Miller added a quickfire 53 from 30 deliveries, before Heinrich Klaasen (15 not out) and Aiden Markram (six not out) carried them to a formidable total.

With their victory, the Proteas returned to the top of the table with 12 points in the opening round, though hosts India were level on points with a game in hand.

If the Netherlands beat Afghanistan on Friday, South Africa will be guaranteed a spot in the playoffs with two matches still to play in the first round.

The SA team will next face India in their penultimate game of the round-robin stage on Sunday.