rediff.com
News APP

NewsApp (Free)

Read news as it happens
Download NewsApp

Available on  gplay

Rediff.com  » Cricket » PHOTOS: Steyn, Duminy steer South Africa to thrilling win over NZ
This article was first published 10 years ago

PHOTOS: Steyn, Duminy steer South Africa to thrilling win over NZ

March 24, 2014 20:29 IST

Image: South Africa fast bowler Dale Steyn celebrates winning the match against New Zealand
Photographs: Gareth Copley/Getty Images

Dale Steyn and JP Duminy led South Africa to a thrilling two-run win over Group One rivals New Zealand on Monday that kept them in the hunt for a semi-final spot at the ICC World Twenty20 in Chittagong.

- Scorecard

The fiery paceman dismissed the dangerous Corey Anderson for seven in the 18th over and then picked up two for four in the last over with the Kiwis, who beat England in their first match, requiring seven for victory.

Taylor, needing three off the last ball, was run out by Steyn.


Amla, Duminy steady South Africa

Image: Hashim Amla
Photographs: Gareth Copley/Getty Images

Hashim Amla (41) and JP Duminy fought back with a 55-run stand after South Africa had slumped to 42 for three.

The fourth-wicket partnership was broken in bizarre fashion when Amla thumped a ball from Corey Anderson and it hit Duminy's bat at the non-striker's end before spooning up for the bowler to complete an easy catch.

Duminy's fireworks lifts South Africa to 170

Image: JP Duminy
Photographs: Gareth Copley/Getty Images

Duminy was full of improvised strokes, bludgeoning 10 fours and three sixes on his way to a blistering unbeaten 86 off 43 balls.

South Africa blasted 70 runs in the last five overs to recover from a slow start and post a healthy 170 for six in their 20 overs.

Williamson, Taylor lift New Zealand after a slow start

Image: Kane Williamson
Photographs: Gareth Copley/Getty Images

New Zealand struggled to get going at the start as they scored just 19 runs in the first four overs.

Williamson broke the shackles as he slammed Morne Morkel for two boundaries and a six in the fifth over, while Martin Guptill slammed Lonwabo Tsotsobe for three fours in the next over to lift New Zealand to 47 for no loss after six overs.

Taylor blasts quickfire half-century

Image: Ross Taylor
Photographs: Gareth Copley/Getty Images

Ross Taylor went after pacer Morne Morkel, hitting him for a hat-trick of sixes in the 12th over. The tall pacer had a day to forget as he went for 50 in three overs.

Leg-spinner Imran Tahir also played a key role, including the key wicket of Brendon McCullum, who was stumped for four.

New Zealand seemed to be cruising in their reply thanks to Williamson's 35-ball 51 and Taylor's 62.

They needed 31 off 24 deliveries with seven wickets in hand but a brilliant two-over spell from Steyn (4-17) turned the match on its head.

'It was a fantastic effort from Dale'

Image: Dale Steyn runs out Ross Taylor to give South Africa victory
Photographs: Gareth Copley/Getty Images

When Steyn started his final over, he faced the unenviable task of having only five runs to defend to secure victory, six to allow the game to go to a super over while New Zealand needed seven for victory.

As it turned out, Steyn conceded only four runs, took two wickets and made a run out off the last ball to complete a stunning victory by two runs. The world’s best bowler finished with figures of 4/17 plus the run out which he manufactured himself.

"I was thinking all the time, Dale is my trump card and I need to bring him back in the game because he was bowling beautifully," South Africa captain Faf du Plessis, who missed the Sri Lanka match with injury, said at the presentation.

"But with the way they were hitting the ball... it was a fantastic effort from Dale."