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Wed, 19 June 2019
World Cup: Williamson, de Grandhomme put NZ in control

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23:57   Williamson, de Grandhomme put NZ in control


NZ 216-5 (45 ovs) vs SA 241-6 (49) | Scorecard

Williamson taps Phehlukwayo for a single to bring up New Zealand's 200 before de Grandhomme gets a thick outside edge off the next for a four.

He nudges the next ball to square leg for one before Williamson pulls a short ball for two runs wide of long-on.

Williamson swings a full toss straight into the hands of Ngidi at fine leg who drops the easy catch but it wouldn't have mattered as the umpire rules it a no-ball for height.

De Grandhomme hits the free hit delivery down the ground for a single and Williamson clips the last ball to fine leg for one to get 12 from the over.

Morris to bowl his final over. A watchful Williamson defends the first two balls before taking one off the third. De Grandhomme pokes at one outside the off-stump and is beaten before he digs out a yorker.

He makes up for it as he swings the last ball of the over for a four over midwicket to bring up his fifty in some style, from 39 balls.

A good outing with the ball for Morris as he finishes with three for 49 in 10 overs.

New Zealand in control as they need 26 from four overs for victory with two well-set batsmen out in the middle.
23:46   Williamson keeps New Zealand in the hunt


NZ 199-5 (43 ovs) vs SA 241-6 (49) | Scorecard

South Africa miss another easy chance to dismiss Williamson. He tries to pull Rabada but is hit on the body and looks to steal a quick bye and is struggling to make his crease. Rabada throws it back quickly to the bowling end but Miller fails to gather with the batsman struggling to make his crease.

De Grandhomme then gets an edge off the third ball for a boundary before taking one off the last ball.

Medium pacer Phehlukwayo is back into the attack. De Grandhomme drives the first ball through the covers for a single before Williamson slaps a short ball through extra cover for another run followed by singles off the last four balls.

Morris is back into the attack. He sticks on a good line in the channel just outside the off-stump with clever change of pace, giving away just a single from four balls.

De Grandhomme then clips a full delivery through midwicket for one and Williamson runs the last ball to thirdman for a single.

New Zealand need 43 from six overs for victory with five wickets in hand.
23:33   Williamson keeps New Zealand in the hunt


NZ 184-5 (40 ovs) vs SA 241-6 (49) | Scorecard

Tahir, who has one over in hand, will finish off his spell. He nearly strikes first ball as Williamson chips it on the leg side where Miller makes a diving effort at midwicket but is unable to get to the ball.

Two singles off the next two balls before de Grandhomme flicks it in the air and Miller makes a superb diving effort but fails to hold on.

Williamson then nearly gets an edge as he pokes to a wide delivery and is beaten.

Top over from the veteran leggie as he finishes with good figures of 33 runs from his 10 overs.

Interestingly, the Ultra Edge shows that Williamson had got a fine edge off the last ball. Wonder why South Africa didn't take the review?

Rabada is back into the attack. He starts with two dot balls to de Grandhomme before the right-hander pulls a short ball high over the square leg fence for a huge six as he races to 29 from 19 balls.

Two balls later, he steers a wide delivery past point for two runs to keep the runs coming at a good rate.

Ngidi is back into the attack from the other end. He bowls five dot balls in a row to Williamson, doing well with the change of pace, not letting the Kiwi captain anything to work with.

He drives the last ball down to long-on for a single as Ngidi concedes just a single in his eighth over.

New Zealand are 184 for five in 40 overs, needing 58 runs from the remaining nine overs for victory.
23:21   Williamson keeps New Zealand in the hunt


NZ 169-5 (37 ovs) vs SA 241-6 (49) | Scorecard

Leg-spinner Tahir is back into the attack. He bowls a tidy over giving away three singles in his eighth over.

Williamson clips Morris on the leg side for one before de Grandhomme slaps it square with some good timing but only for a single.

Williamson is then hit on the arm as he looks to pull Morris but is way too early into the shot. However, he gets the shot right two balls later, pulling it confidently through midwicket for a four.

De Grandhomme living on the edge. This time he looks to whip Tahir over square leg leg but fails to get it off the middle as he gets two runs behind square.

He then smashes the next ball straight as it falls just short of Tahir and goes to long-on for one and Williamson eases the next ball to the same fielder for another single.

Tahir overpitches as de Grandhomme drives it again to long-on for one before he survives a run out chance last ball. Williamson tapped it to midwicket and called his partner for a quick single, who was struggling but David Miller missed the direct hit.

Andile Phehlukwayo is back into the attack. Williamson takes a single off the first ball before de Grandhomme deposits a short ball over the square leg fence for a six and then takes one off the next.

A single to Williamson off the fifth ball as the pacer gives away nine runs from the over. New Zealand need 73 from 12 overs for victory.
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23:04   Neesham out for 23; NZ in trouble


NZ 145-5 (33 ovs) vs SA 241-6 (49) | Scorecard

Medium pacer Phehlukwayo is back into the attack. He starts with a wide down the leg side to Neesham, who then takes a single to fine leg.

A slower ball stays low as Williamson is beaten before he gets an inside edge for two runs on the leg side before he pulls the next for a single.

Rabada nearly strikes as Neesham shuffles a long way looking to nudge the short ball fine but misses and South Africans go up in appeal for caught behind but the umpire turns it down.

Phehlukwayo starts the over with leg side like he did in his previous over. The next ball is a wide on the off-side before Williamson tries to play the cut shot but gets the edge which stays low and goes in the gap between the slip and wicketkeeper for a four.

The pacer tries a short ball as Williamson pulls it to fine leg for a four and Neesham hits a straight drive past mid-on for the second four of the over.

Morris is called back into the attack. Neesham chases a wide delivery as he gets the edge and Amla at wide slips holds on to a good catch.

Neesham walks back after a good hand of 23 from 34 balls as South Africa take the upperhand with New Zealand reduced to 137 for five, in the 33rd over.

Colin de Grandhomme drives the first ball he faces through the covers for two runs to get off the mark.

Morris overpitches as de Grandhomme whips it over midwicket for a four to start off in positive fashion.

He clips the last ball to deep square for another couple of runs as nine come from the over.

New Zealand need 97 runs form 16 overs for victory, and their hopes rest largely on Williamson, who has made 63 from 90 balls.
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22:47   Williamson hits fifty to keep NZ afloat


NZ 124-4 (29 ovs) vs SA 241-6 (49) | Scorecard

Ngidi bowling on a good line not giving Williamson the room as he keeps it in the channel just outside the off-stump.

Two dot balls before Williamson clips it on the leg side for one and Neesham taps a slower ball to point for a single.

Wiliamson whips another slower ball through midwicket for two runs to take his score to 49.

Neesham finally connects as he slog sweeps Tahir over midwicket for a four to release some pressure and then takes one. A single to Williamson off the last ball helps the Kiwi captain raise his half-century from 72 balls.

Rabada is back into the attack. A single to Williamson on the leg side off the first ball before Neesham turns the third ball on the legs side for one.

Williamson then runs a wide delivery square past point for two runs to get four from the over.

New Zealand are 119 for four in 29 overs, needing another 123 runs from 20 overs for victory at an asking rate of just over six.
22:30   Bowlers lead South Africa's fightback


NZ 105-4 (26 ovs) vs SA 241-6 (49) | Scorecard

Williamson is looking quite solid as he takes a single off Tahir. The leggie then has a huge appeal for LBW turned down against Neesham, who goes for the sweep but misses and is hit on the pads.

The ball pitched outside the line of leg stump and South Africa rightly decide against the review.

Neesham plays out the rest of the over as Tahir bowls another tidy over, he has conceded just 12 runs from his first five overs.

Ngidi deceives Williamson with the slower ball as it comes in sharply and stays a bit low to go under the bat.,

He sends down a maiden over as New Zealand struggle in the middle overs, have scored just a single off the last 12 balls, including 11 dots in a row.

Neesham looks to break the shackles as he tries to slog Tahir from outside the off-stump over midwicket but it spins sharply off the rough to beat the right-hander.

Just three runs from the last three overs as New Zealand start to feel the pressure, but they don't have anything to worry till Williamson is out there in the middle.

He has batted solidly to score 46 from 65 balls and holds the key to their chances of chasing down this total.
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22:18   Bowlers lead South Africa's fightback


NZ 102-4 (23 ovs) vs SA 241-6 (49) | Scorecard

Tahir bowls a tidy over, giving away just two runs, as South Africa look to build the pressure.

New Zealand have been rocked by three early wickets to be reduced to 86 for four in 20 overs, needing another 155 from 29 overs for victory at an asking rate of 5.3.

Neesham taps Morris to short thirdman for one before Williamson drives a full delivery straight down the ground for a four, followed by three singles for eight runs from the over.

Tahir keeps things tight from his end as he gives away three singles in his fourth over.

South Africa bring back Rabada to replace Morris as they look to keep a fast bowler going from one end.

New Zealand easily collect five singles from the over to take their score past the 100-run mark, in the 23rd over.
22:03   NZ lose 4th wicket as SA fight back


NZ 84-4 (19 ovs) vs SA 241-6 (49) | Scorecard

South Africa creating quite a few chances. Williamson plays back to a delivery not that short as he looks to cut but gets a thick outside edge for a four through the vacant thirdman region.

Williamson then does well to keep out the googly as he adjusts quite late to get the inside edge before the Kiwi skipper goes for the slog sweep but is beaten.

Morris produces another beauty to get the wicket of Latham, who pokes at one slanted across him with some extra bounce to get the edge and is caught behind for one.

New Zealand have lost three wickets for eight runs in the space of 19 deliveries to be reduced to 80 for four, in the 19th over.

Morris nearly bags another one as Jimmy Neesham feels for the wide delivery going away as it passes close to the edge.

Morris then drops short as Neesham slaps it past point for a four to release some pressure.
21:53   Guptill and Taylor perish; NZ in trouble


NZ 76-3 (17 ovs) vs SA 241-6 (49) | Scorecard

Imran Tahir comes into the attack and he will be bowling to Williamson, whom he has dismissed four times in eight innings.

A single each to Williamson and Ross Taylor before the Kiwi captain nearly chips a return catch back to the bowler but it falls just short.

A good start from the veteran leggie as he gives away just two singles in his first over.

Morris strikes with the key wicket of Ross Taylor, who is caught down the leg side by wicketkeeper de Kock for one. That was a full delivery down the leg side which Taylor should have despatched for a four but get a thin edge and is caught behind.

Another streaky dismissal for the Kiwis, who have been very unlucky so far with the bat.

Munro was caught off an inside edge, while Guptill perished hit wicket and Taylor was caught behind down the leg side off a delivery which he should have glanced for a boundary.

Tom Latham gets off the mark with a single to thirdman and Williamson picks another run before the former pokes at a wide one and is lucky not to have edged it.
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21:44   Guptill out hit wicket; NZ 2 down


NZ 72-2 (15 ovs) vs SA 241-6 (49) | Scorecard

Williamson slaps a short delivery from Phehlukwayo to the sweeper on the off-side for a single.

Guptill then gets a thick inside edge as he tries to drive it straight and the ball races through midwicket for a four.

In the next over, Williamson taps Morris on the leg side for one before Guptill gets two runs to sweeper cover as the fielder fumbles.

Phehlukwayo overpitches as Williams drives it in some style through the covers for a four. He then tries to pull the next ball but gets a thick inside edge past the stumps for another boundary before taking two runs to square leg and then gets a single.

South Africa get lucky as Guptill goes back to play the pull shot and ends up breaking the stumps with his feet. He was not in control of the pull as the ball bounced a bit more than expected and he slipped after completing the shot to be dismissed hit wicket for 35.

A lucky break for South Africa to keep their hopes alive as New Zealand are reduced to 72 for two in 15 overs.
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21:28   Guptill, Williamson take NZ past 50


NZ 53-1 (12 ovs) vs SA 241-6 (49) | Scorecard

Andile Phehlukwayo comes into the attack to replace Rabada, who bowled a good first spell of one for 19 in five overs.

The pitch seems to have slowed down and the ball is not coming to the bat.

Three singles from the over as New Zealand continue to keep the scoreboard ticking along.

Morris gets the ball to kick off a bit as Williamson who was shaping to defend is surprised but he manages to fend it to point. The next ball is pitched up as the Kiwi captain drives it straight down the ground past the bowler for a four to bring up his team's 50, in the 12th over.

He picks a single before Guptill pulls the last ball but van der Dussen puts in the slide to keep the ball inside and give away just two runs.
21:20   Guptill, Williamson steady New Zealand


NZ 43-1 (10 ovs) vs SA 241-6 (49) | Scorecard

Guptill has settled down nicely after playing a few good shots. He confidently defends Rabada before he offers no shot to the short ball.

Guptill defends the next few balls before taking a single off the last ball to retain strike.

In the next over, he is again careful with his shot selection. The line from Ngidi is just outside the off-stump as Guptill plays with caution before he lofts a full delivery over the covers for a four.

A slightly short delivery which is a bit wide is punched through the covers by Williamson for three runs as the fielder manages to keep it inside the ropes.

He then confidently plays out the next four deliveries and keeps strike with a single from the last ball.

Ngidi, who bowled four overs for 22 runs, is taken off as Chris Morris is called into the attack.

Guptill slaps a short wide delivery from Morris over the covers for two runs but plays out the rest of the over.

New Zealand have made a good start to reach 43 for one in 10 overs, with Guptill on 26 and Williamson on six.
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21:02   Guptill, Williamson steady New Zealand


NZ 32-1 (6 ovs) vs SA 241-6 (49) | Scorecard

Ngidi has started off well too to maintain the pressure from the other end. He gets the ball to come in sharply as Guptill looks to clip it on the leg side but misses and hit on the pads. The South Africans all go up in appeal for leg before wicket which is turned down and they decide against the review with the ball going down the leg side.

Guptill then drives a full wide delivery through the covers for a couple before he is beaten again by the indipper.

Top stuff from both the South African pacers as they are looking quite lively and creating some chances with the new ball.

Extra pace from Rabada as Williamson looks to run it down to thirdman but gets it off the bottom before he defends the next ball watchfully.

Rabada strays down the leg side as Williamson glances it fine past the wicketkeeper for two runs.

Guptill gives Ngidi the charge and looks to whack it out of the ground but misses before he flicks the next ball off his pads through midwicket for a four.

He then plays two cracking straight drives off full pitched deliveries, beating the fielder at mid-off twice for back to back fours.
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20:48   Rabada strikes early; Munro out for 9


NZ 15-1 (3 ovs) vs SA 241-6 (49) | Scorecard

Kagiso Rabada to open the bowling for South Africa, who will be aiming for a few quick wickets to get themselves back into the contest.

Martin Guptill taps the first ball on the off-side and then defends the next to square leg before he gets off the mark with a single on the leg side.

Colin Munro wastes no time to get going. He throws his bat at a wide full delivery as he hammers it through the covers for a four to get off the mark in confident fashion. The next ball is punched perfectly in the gap with some excellent timing through the covers again for another boundary.

He plays another good shot off the last ball but this time he can't beat the fielder in the covers.

Fit-again Lungi Ngidi from the other end. He bowls a perfect delivery first up, getting some extra bouncer as Guptill pokes and is beaten.

He then gets a single to thirdman before Munro gets a thick inside edge which narrowly misses the stumps for another single.

Ngidi then strays down the leg side to concede a wide followed by another dot ball.

A good delivery from Rabada on the body as Munro tries to nudge it on the leg side but gets a thick inside edge on to the pads which pops up in the air and is easily taken by the bowler himself.

An early boost for South Africa as the dangerous-looking Munro is dismissed for nine, in the third over.

Kane Williamson gets off the mark with a single as he taps a full delivery on the leg side and Guptill takes one next ball.

Rabada then bowls a leg side wide before Williamson defends the last two balls.
20:08   New Zealand bowlers restrict SA to 241


SA 241-6 (49 ovs) vs NZ | Scorecard

Rassie van der Dussen and Hashim Amla hit half-centuries but New Zealand's bowlers managed to restrict South Africa to 241 for six in the World Cup match in Birmingham.

Put into bat, South Africa struggled after losing Quinton de Kock early before Hashim Amla hit a sedate 55 from 83 balls as they struggled in the middle overs.

Colin de Grandhomme bowled a tight spell of one for 33 in 10 overs to keep the South Africans in check.

Rassie van der Dussen hit a quickfire 67 not out from 64 balls, while David Miller stroked 36 from 37 balls to help South Africa add some quick runs at the end.

Pacer Lockie Ferguson claimed three for 59, while Trent Boult and Mitchell Santner took one wicket each.

The match has been reduced to 49-overs-per-side.
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20:03   New Zealand bowlers restrict SA to 241


SA 241-6 (49 ovs) vs NZ | Scorecard

Van der Dussen swings a length ball from Henry square on the leg side for a six. He then pulls the next ball straight to Ferguson at fine leg who puts down a simple catch.

Morris takes one to bring van der Dussen back on strike, who is then beaten two balls in a row by the change of pace from Henry.

He also plays and misses the last ball as Henry makes a good comeback after being hit for a six off the first delivery.

Ferguson to bowl the final over. Morris top edges the pull shot which goes over wicketkeeper Tom Latham for a four.

He then comes down and has a swing but is beaten as Ferguson does well to bowl it on the body and cramp him for room.

Morris then clubs the third ball hard but the change of pace means he can only mishit it over the bowler for a single to mid-off.

Van der Dussen is beaten by a wide yorker as Ferguson bowls it a lot slower.

He then makes good connection, hitting the fifth ball for a six over long-on and then slams the last ball down the ground for a four.
19:56   Van der Russen hits fifty but SA struggle


SA 218-6 (47 ovs) vs NZ | Scorecard

Andile Phehlukwayo pokes at a wide delivery from Boult and is beaten before he is hit on the pads by the yorker and takes a leg bye.

Van der Dussen is then hit on the gloves by a quick bouncer from Boult as he is struck on the thumb before it hits the helmet. The physio comes out to attend the injury but he is fine to continue. He then hammers a full delivery straight down the ground for a boundary and then digs out a yorker to mid-off for one and Phehlukwayo is beaten by the incoming delivery.

Van der Dussen pulls Ferguson on the leg side for a single to bring up his fifty from 56 balls.

A short ball down the leg side to left-hander Phehlukwayo is called a wide and then goes for the big swing but is beaten.

He then perishes next ball trying to hit a full toss down the ground but fails to get hold of it and is caught by Williamson at mid-off to perish for a duck.

New batsman Chris Morris is beaten first ball outside the off-stump and then misses the next delivery before he is unable to get a run off the last ball.

Superb bowling by Ferguson as he concedes just two runs in the 47th over.

19:41   Miller out for 36; SA lose 5th wicket


SA 210-5 (45 ovs) vs NZ | Scorecard

Boult is back into the attack. Miller and van der Dussen have a couple of close shaves as they struggle with their running between the wickets. The lack of boundaries have made them desperate to go for impossible singles, and Miller gets a lifeline as Santner misses the direct hit.

Miller finally gets one out of the park as he clubs a length ball from Boult over midwicket for a much-needed six for the Proteas and keeps strike with one from the last ball.

Ferguson is back into the attack. Miller pulls the first ball for a four to bring up South Africa's 200, in the 45th over. The next ball is full but down the leg side as Miller clips it fine for another four followed by two singles.

Miller then looks to cut a short wide delivery but ends up holing out to the fielder at thirdman as he perishes for 36 from 37 balls.

Van der Dussen clips the last ball behind square on the leg side for two runs.
19:32   South Africa struggle with the bat


SA 187-4 (43 ovs) vs NZ | Scorecard

Henry, who bowled a tight spell with the new ball, comes back. He does well to concede four runs in his eighth over, including a leg bye.

Both van der Dussen and Miller have failed to hit a single boundary so far in their 51-ball partnership, having faced 44 and 21 balls respectively.

Infact, the last boundary for South Africa came way back in the 32nd over.

Van der Dussen breaks the shackles as he lofts Santner over the long-on fence for the first six of the innings, in the 42nd innings.

Four singles from the rest of the over as South Africa get 10 from the over as they finally show some intent.

Henry continues his good showing with the ball as he concedes only four singles from his ninth over.
19:19   South Africa struggle with the bat


SA 169-4 (40 ovs) vs NZ | Scorecard

Miller gets a leading edge as he looks to clip Ferguson through the leg side but it falls well short of the fielder in the covers. The next ball bounces a bit more than expected as Miller is hit on the gloves again before he pulls a short ball down the leg side for one.

A single to van der Dussen before the pacer bowls a wide as just three come from the over.

Boult is back into the attack. Van der Dussen plays a nice drive through the covers where Munro puts in the dive to his right to save the boundary and concede just two runs.

Boult sweeps Miller off his feet with a cracking yorker as he does well not only to dig it out but also clips it through midwicket for two runs to complete 3000 runs in ODIs, followed by two more singles off the last two balls.

Spinner Santner is back into the attack. He starts off with three dot balls to van der Dussen before giving away three singles off the last three.

South Africa need a strong finish as they struggle to 169 for four in 40 overs, with van der Dussen on 28 and Miller on 12.
19:10   South Africa struggle with the bat


SA 156-4 (37 ovs) vs NZ | Scorecard

Van der Dussen hits a full wide delivery over the fielder at mid-off and picks up two runs before he clips the third ball on the leg side for another couple.

He is then beaten by the incoming delivery and is hit on the pads before taking a single off the last ball to keep strike.

Ferguson is back into the attack as he also does well to keep things in check, giving away four runs in his sixth over, including a leg bye.

De Grandhomme to bowl his final over. Miller lofts the first ball over mid-on as the fielder does well to run back and keep the ball inside the ropes to keep it down to three which brings up South Africa's 150, in the 37th over.

A single each to the two batsmen before van der Dussen pulls the slower bouncer to square leg for another run and Miller retain strike with a single from the last ball.

A wonderful spell from medium pacer de Grandhomme, who finishes with one for 33 in his 10 overs, having conceded just one boundary.
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18:51   Markram out for 38; SA 4 down


SA 140-4 (34 ovs) vs NZ | Scorecard

Markram looks to take on de Grandhomme as he comes down and looks to play the pull shot but is deceived the change of pace as he can only tap it on the leg side.

He then perishes as he miscues it to sweeper cover trying to play the big shot and is caught by Colin Munro to be dismissed for 38.

Markram was looking to loft it down the ground but it came off the outside half of the bat as another South Africa batsman fails to carry on after getting off to a start.

Van der Dussen picks a single before David Miller plays out the last two balls to end a good over.

De Grandhomme has bowled a good spell, taking one for 21 in his eight overs.

Van der Dussen hits Boult on the leg side for a single before Miller runs the ball down to thirdman for one followed by another run off the next.

South Africa struggling to get going as they reach 140 for four in 34 overs, losing wickets at regular intervals.
18:42   Amla out for 55; SA in trouble


SA 135-3 (32 ovs) vs NZ | Scorecard

A good quick short ball from Ferguson as Markram is hit on the gloves trying to fend it and he gets a single to square leg.

Rassie van der Dussen hits the fourth ball through the covers for a single before Markram defends the last two balls.

Santner overpitches and also gives some room as Markram flays it through the covers for a four and then takes one to long-on.

Van der Dussen clips the last ball fine for a couple as South Africa reach 123 for three in 30 overs.

Colin de Grandhomme is back into the attack. Markram (32) pulls a short ball straight to Boult at fine leg but he puts down a simple catch.

Van der Dussen then slaps the third ball for one through the covers and Markram is beaten by the incoming delivery and hit on the pads.

He then attempts to flick a leg side delivery but misses and hit on the pads as he collects two leg byes.

Pacer Boult is back into the attack. Markram drives a wide delivery through the off-side for a four before he hits the next ball powerfully through the covers but this time only for one.

Van der Dussen then gets a single as he hits the ball straight, striking the stumps at the other end before the pacer bowls a wide.
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18:23   Amla out for 55; SA in trouble


SA 112-3 (28 ovs) vs NZ | Scorecard

Pacer Ferguson is back into the attack, replacing de Grandhomme, who bowled a tight first spell of six overs for 17 runs.

Markram punches the first ball through the covers for two runs and then takes a single next ball.

Amla then drops a short ball on the off-side and takes a quick run before Ferguson tries a short ball which goes down the leg side and is called a wide.

Markram keeps strike with one from the last ball as South Africa take their score to 108 for two in 27 overs, as the run rate finally touches the four mark.

Santner produces a beauty to dismiss Amla. He gets the ball to drift into the batsman as Amla pushes forward but it turns sharply going past the bat and crashes into the stumps. Amla was playing inside the line, perhaps looking to play it on the off-side but was beaten completely as the ball struck the top of off-stump!

Amla walks back after a sedate 55 from 85 balls as South Africa find themselves in trouble on 111 for three, in the 28th over.
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18:13   Amla hits fifty; SA struggle past 100


SA 102-2 (26 ovs) vs NZ | Scorecard

Amla looking to break the shackles as he chances his arm against de Grandhomme. He clips the fourth ball uppishly over midwicket for two runs and then flicks the next ball uppishly just past a diving fielder at mid-on for a four which brings up his fifty, from 75 balls.

He keeps strike with a single from the last ball to sweeper cover as South Africa reach 98 for two in 25 overs at the halfway mark, with their scoring rate still under four runs per over.

Four runs from the next bowled by Santner as South Africa go past the 100-run mark, in the 26th over.
18:06   New Zealand's bowlers keep SA in check


SA 91-2 (24 ovs) vs NZ | Scorecard

De Grandhomme again keeps things in check as he gives away just two singles in his fourth over.

In the next over from Santner, the duo take four singles but are still unable to get the boundary to release some pressure.

Amla decides to break the shackles as he comes down the track to de Grandhomme and hits it mid-on before taking a quick single.

Markram then comes down the track but is hit on the pads by the incoming ball and Amla drives the next to sweeper cover for one.

Markram clips the last ball to fine leg and calls Amla for the second run as the bowler gives away five runs  in the over, including a leg bye.

It's been more than seven overs since South Africa have hit a boundary and it won't be long before they decide to take a chance or two to get their innings back on track.

Even the singles are difficult to come for South Africa. Markram clips Santner to midwicket and sets off for a quick single and is lucky that Williamson misses the direct hit or else he would have been on his way back.

Markram hits the last ball firmly down the ground past the bowler for a four, the first boundary for the Proteas after a long wait of eight overs.
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17:54   Du Plessis out for 23; NZ on top


SA 73-2 (20 ovs) vs NZ | Scorecard

Medium pacer Colin de Grandhomme comes into the attack, in place of Henry, who bowled seven overs for 19 runs, including two maidens.

Amla drives the second ball through the covers for one before new batsman Aiden Markram is beaten first ball as he flirts at one away from his body before he watchfully plays out the rest of the over.

In the next over, Amla flashes at a wide delivery from Ferguson and is beaten before he takes a single on the off-side.

Ferguson overpitches as Markram drives it through the covers for a four before the pacer produces a beauty to beat the right-hander next ball, courtesy of some extra bounce.

De Grandhomme bowls another tight over, conceding just a single, for a  total of two runs given in his first two overs.

Spin introduced as left-arm spinner Mitchell Santner comes into the attack. Amla drives the second ball down to long-off for one and Markram picks one to long-on before the former takes one to get three from the over.

De Grandhomme gets the ball to come in sharply as Amla is hit on the pads but the leg before shout is turned down. The Kiwis decide against the review as the ball came in sharply and could have been missing.

Amla then picks a single to point before Markram is also beaten by the incoming delivery from the medium pacer, however, the impact is down the leg side.

He gets a thick inside edge off the last ball for a single to retain strike as just two runs come from the over.

De Grandhomme is doing a good job with the ball, conceding just four runs from his first three overs.

Santner also looking to build the pressure from his end with a tight spell, not only drying up the boundaries but also restricting the flow of singles.

South Africa are 73 for two in 20 overs, with Amla on 38 from 60 balls and Markram on seven from 17 balls.
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17:30   Du Plessis out for 23; SA lose 2nd wicket


SA 59-2 (14 ovs) vs NZ | Scorecard

Henry continues as he bowls another maiden over, his second in a row. He has bowled in good channels today and kept things tight from his end. Infact, he was very close to getting the edge as du Plessis poked at a wide one and was beaten.

Lockie Ferguson comes into the attack in place of Boult, who took one for 29 in five overs in his first spell.

A single to Amla off the first ball before Du Plessis gets a thick outside edge three balls later for one.

Amla hits the last ball square on the off-side for two runs to bring up his 8000 runs in ODIs.

A long first spell for Henry as he continues to bowl his seventh over in a row.

Du Plessis picks one off the first ball to mid-off before Amla clips the fourth ball through midwicket and gets three runs.

Du Plessis plays a wonderful straight drive off the last ball for a four as Henry finally goes for runs after some tight bowling early on.

Amla and Du Plessis looking to take charge now. The pitch has also flattened as Amla slaps a wide delivery from Ferguson past point for three runs.

Du Plessis then crashes a wide full delivery through the covers for a boundary to raise the 50-run stand for the second wicket from 71 balls.

Ferguson responds with a quick bouncer as du Plessis sways out of the way before he is bowled by a yorker next ball.

The short ball is followed by a pacy yorker as du Plessis is unable to get his bat down in time and bowled for 23. Superb bowling by Ferguson to set up du Plessis, who was looking in good touch.
17:12   Amla, du Plessis steady South Africa


SA 40-1 (10 ovs) vs NZ | Scorecard

Henry bowls a good over to Amla, not giving him any room as he sticks to a good line and length to send down the first maiden of the innings.

Henry has been very tight with the new ball, giving away just 11 runs in five overs.

Du Plessis gets his first boundary as he drives a full delivery from Boult straight down the ground past mid-off for a four, off the 16th ball he faced.

Two balls later, he plays a nice drive through the covers for another boundary before taking a single on the off-side as South Africa recover to 40 for one in 10 overs.
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17:05   Amla, du Plessis steady South Africa


SA 31-1 (8 ovs) vs NZ | Scorecard

Boult gets the ball to come in sharply to Amla, who is beaten all ends up, and is lucky that the ball was going down the leg side or else he would have been in trouble.

Boult tries another incoming delivery but this time Amla manages to clip it square on the leg side for two runs.

Henry bowling in the channel outside the off-stump as Du Plessis defends before he offers no shot to the wide ones.

But he then looks to drive it through the covers as he gets the edge which goes through the vacant third slip region for two runs.

Amla gaining in confidence with time spent at the crease. Boult, looking for the swing, overpitches as Amla drills it through the covers for a four. Boult switches to over the wicket as the next ball is again pitched up and Amla drives it straight back past the bowler for another boundary.

Amla gets an inside edge which goes on the bounce to Ross Taylor in the slips who does well to stop it and du Plessis calls his partner across for a tight single.
16:52   Boult strikes; SA lose early wicket


SA 18-1 (5 ovs) vs NZ | Scorecard

South Africa are looking quite nervous. Amla looks to drive Henry through the off-side without any footwork but gets a thick inside edge which narrowly misses the stumps and gets him a single.

Du Plessis defends the next ball before he offers no shot to the last ball which comes in sharply.

Boult drops slightly short as Amla rocks back and slaps it through the covers for two runs and then pulls the third to fine leg for one before du Plessis watchfully defends the rest of the over.

Amla plays another loose shot, throwing his bat at a wide full delivery which moves away and is beaten. He then gets a big inside edge trying to drive it through the covers as it goes through square leg and gets him three runs.

Du Plessis then plays out the rest of the over as South Africa struggle to 18 for one in five overs.
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16:42   Boult strikes; SA lose early wicket


SA 11-1 (2 ovs) vs NZ | Scorecard

It's been 11 days since New Zealand last played in the World Cup and they would be keen to get going right from the word go.

Their bowlers will be looking to get into the act straightaway with a few early wickets and keep up the pressure on the struggling South Africans.

Pacer Matt Henry will open the bowling for the Kiwis. The first ball is pitched up as opener Quinton de Kock defends with soft hands. The left-hander is beaten next ball by a full delivery which shapes away as the batsman goes for the drive through the covers.

De Kock then clips it to square leg for one to get off the mark and Amla glances the fifth ball, which is on the pads, fine on the leg side for a four and offers no shot to the last ball.

Trent Boult from the other end. De Kock defends the first two balls before he nudges the third ball fine on the leg side for a four.

Boult then bowls de Kock for five with a full delivery as South Africa lose an early wicket. The ball came in slightly as de Kock went for the drive past mid-on without moving his feet and missed the ball completely. A poor shot from the left-hander early on in the innings.

Faf du Plessis survives a run out chance off the first ball he faces. He drives Boult through the covers and nearly loses his wicket attempting a third run after he is sent halfway down the pitch. But Kane Williamson had thrown at the wrong end allowing du Plessis enough time to recover his ground.
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16:18   NZ elect to bowl; Ngidi back for SA


Check out the playing XIs of the two teams:

South Africa:
Faf du Plessis (captain), Hashim Amla, Quinton de Kock (w/k), Aiden Markram, Rassie van der Dussen, David Miller, Andile Phehlukwayo, Chris Morris, Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi, Imran Tahir.


New Zealand: Kane Williamson (captain), Martin Guptill, Colin Munro, Ross Taylor, Tom Latham (w/k), James Neesham, Colin de Grandhomme, Mitchell Santner, Matt Henry, Lockie Ferguson, Trent Boult.
16:07   NZ elect to bowl; Ngidi back for SA

New Zealand captain Kane Williamson has won the toss and elected to bowl against South Africa in Birmingham, on Wednesday.

It is a must-win game for South Africa, who have won just one out of their first five games, including one wash out.

They have brought back fast bowler Lungi Ngidi, who has recovered from his hamstring injury suffered during the match against Bangladesh.

New Zealand, who are third in the standings with seven points from four games, retain the same team.
15:39   Toss at 4pm IST, match starts at 4.30pm IST

The sun has come out now as the umpires are conducting their second inspection of the conditions.

The South Africans have come out and started their warm-ups and things look very good at the moment.

Meanwhile, the umpires have decided that toss will take place at 4pm IST and the match will get underway at 4.30pm IST.

And because of the time lost, the match has been reduced to 49-overs-a-side.
15:05   Next pitch inspection at 3.30pm IST

The umpires are still not happy with the conditions, especially the outfield and have decided to wait for a little bit longer.

They will conduct another inspection at 3.30pm IST before deciding on when the match can begin.

"The umpires have judged the outfield is too wet to begin," tweeted Cricket World Cup's official handle.

Stay tuned!
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14:54   Kiwis renew rivalry with old enemy South Africa

New Zealand and South Africa have a rich sporting rivalry, especially at major tournaments where the Black Caps hold the upper hand.

They have knocked South Africa out of the last two World Cups, winning the quarter-final in Dhaka in 2011 and the semi-final in Auckland in 2015, a match that remains one of the greatest in ODI history.

Grant Elliott hit the six that sealed New Zealand's great win four years ago  after they were set a tough 298 for victory.

While New Zealand are unbeaten from their four matches so far (with three wins and a washout), South Africa have only one victory to their name and cannot afford another slip-up.

New Zealand's attack is the only one to have dismissed their opposition in each match they have played this tournament.

South Africa beat Afghanistan at the weekend and know they need to keep winning to have a chance at qualifying for the semi-finals.

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14:40   SA vs NZ toss delayed due to wet outfield

Welcome to the coverage of the World Cup match between South Africa and New Zealand in Birmingham, on Wednesday.

The toss has been delayed because of the wet outfield caused by rain.

The umpires will conduct an inspection of the conditions at 1445 hours IST.

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