South Africa vs New Zealand, 41st Match, Super Eights at St George's, , Apr 14 2007 - Ball by Ball Commentary

RESULT
41st Match, Super Eights, St George's, April 14, 2007, ICC World Cup
(48.2/50 ov, T:194) 196/5

New Zealand won by 5 wickets (with 10 balls remaining)

Player Of The Match
38* (55) & 3/23
craig-mcmillan
New
NZ
Full commentary

McMillan stayed there til the end, unbeaten on 38 to add to his three key wickets. New Zealand beat South Africa by five wickets to seal their place in the crucial round coming up. They won the toss, and having come unstuck themselves batting first in St George's against Sri Lanka, opted to field first. It paid off on a difficult batting strip, as Bond and Franklin wasted little time with the new ball. Gibbs and Prince added 76 in 17 overs, but it was the gamble of bringing on McMillan that hammered in South Africa's fate. Chasing 194, New Zealand were sluggish, but Fleming played a dour captain's innings and then that man Styris added another World Cup fifty.

Just waiting to confirm the Man of the Match for you all. Im pretty sure it'll be McMillan.

Ian Smith talks to Smith and Fleming. Smith thinks the first 20 overs were the toughest, and credits New Zealand for making full use of the conditions and keeping his side down. He thinks 220-230 would've been much better. Admits everyone's disappointed in the dressing room. Fleming is happy, though he's not letting on. Check out that grimace as he answers Ian's questions. A good effort, he says, with words of praise for Franklin, who set the day up for New Zealand, he adds. Didnt have any issues with the surface, glad he won the toss. Has plenty to say about McMillan's subtleties as a bowler. Acknowledges the game was tight, but backs the motion to slog it out in the chase.

And yes, no surprises, McMillan is the Man of the Match. He's a happy bloke. Beaming, he says he's grateful to just be here and is glad New Zealand bounced back from the loss to Sri Lanka. Loved each of his three wickets, and says chasing 194 was tricky.

Thats all I have for you, people. Let me remind you of tomorrow's game, a tussle between Ireland and Bangladesh at Bridgetown that will start at 13:30 GMT. I'll be bringing you the commentary again, lucky people, you. Until then, this is Jamie Alter signing off. Cheers!

48.2
4
Nel to McCullum, FOUR runs

there it is, McCullum's not wasting time! Full outside off stump, he uses the feet well, and smashes that through the covers and just sets off for the pavilion, cool as a cucumber! New Zealand have made the semi-finals!

Here's McCullum. Just a couple to seal this affair. Nel's still beaming.

48.1
W
Nel to Oram, OUT

cleaned em up! It was full, no room to hit, and Oram swings across the line only to hear the death rattle behind him! What a celebration from Nel as he savours the sight of splayed stumps in front of him!

Jacob Oram b Nel 10 (18b 1x4 0x6 22m) SR: 55.55

The Beige Brigade is alive in the stands. Soon to be the Crimson Brigade as most of them are topless and the suns beating down hard.

end of over 485 runs
NZ: 192/4CRR: 4.00 RRR: 1.00
Craig McMillan38 (55b 2x4 1x6)
Jacob Oram10 (17b 1x4)
Andrew Hall 8-0-32-0
Andre Nel 9-0-29-1
47.6
Hall to McMillan, no run

full on off stump, he nearly falls over as he works it to short midwicket

47.5
Hall to McMillan, no run

back of a length again, he pushes to point again

47.4
Hall to McMillan, no run

back of a length outside off stump, chopped to point

New Zealanders all hanging out on the balcony...methinks an ambush of sorts once the winning runs are hit and they make the semis

47.3
Hall to McMillan, no run

good length outside off stump, he gets a good look at it and then leaves it be

47.2
1
Hall to Oram, 1 run

good length on off stump, pushed down to long-off

Three to get...

47.1
4
Hall to Oram, FOUR runs

full outside off stump, and he clobbers it powerfully past mid-on to get the crowd buzzing

Just seven to get from 18 deliveries. Shakirah offers this: "Andre Nel would make a great bad guy in an action movie." Andrew Hall comes back to bowl. What would he make?

end of over 473 runs
NZ: 187/4CRR: 3.97 RRR: 2.33
Craig McMillan38 (51b 2x4 1x6)
Jacob Oram5 (15b)
Andre Nel 9-0-29-1
Robin Peterson 7-0-39-1
46.6
Nel to McMillan, no run

good length on off stump, he gets right behind the line and defends back to Nel

46.5
1
Nel to Oram, 1 run

short of a length outside off stump, caressed past point for one

46.4
Nel to Oram, no run

bounces the big man, who loses sight of it and awkwardly gets out of the way

46.3
Nel to Oram, no run

back of a length on the stumps, clipped to Peterson at mid-on, who has a shy at the nonstriker's end and McMillan has to dive to get back in

46.2
Nel to Oram, no run

back of a length outside off stump, steered to backward point

46.1
2
Nel to Oram, 2 runs

pitches it on leg stump, and Oram tucks it past square leg, a misfield in the deep allows the second

10 now from 24. Nel comes back on.

end of over 462 runs
NZ: 184/4CRR: 4.00 RRR: 2.50
Jacob Oram2 (10b)
Craig McMillan38 (50b 2x4 1x6)
Robin Peterson 7-0-39-1
Makhaya Ntini 10-0-42-1
45.6
1lb
Peterson to Oram, 1 leg bye

tossed up outside leg stump, down he goes in an attempt to sweep, but fails

45.5
Peterson to Oram, no run

tossed up, he drives to de Villiers again

45.4
Peterson to Oram, no run

another bad ball, but that man de Villiers is a livewire in the covers and robs Oram of runs

45.3
Peterson to Oram, no run

short and wide, Oram crunches that off the back foot to cover, where AB de Villiers flings himself around to save runs

That was a catch, very tough, for Boucher, replays show.

45.2
1
Peterson to McMillan, 1 run

tossed up, this time he tucks it into midwicket for one

45.1
Peterson to McMillan, no run

tossed up, McMillan leans forward and drives, there's a noise, Boucher fumbles...edge? Ground? I cant tell.

12 from 30. Dancing in the stands. Well, one of the stands anyway.

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ICC World Cup

Super Eights
TEAMMWLPTNRR
AUS770142.400
SL752101.483
NZ752100.253
SA74380.313
ENG7346-0.394
WI7254-0.566
BAN7162-1.514
IRE7162-1.730
Group A
TEAMMWLPTNRR
AUS33063.433
SA32142.403
NED3122-2.527
SCOT3030-3.793
Group B
TEAMMWLPTNRR
SL33063.493
BAN3214-1.523
IND31221.206
BER3030-4.345
Group C
TEAMMWLPTNRR
NZ33062.138
ENG32140.418
KENYA3122-1.194
CAN3030-1.389
Group D
TEAMMWLPTNRR
WI33060.764
IRE3113-0.092
PAK31220.089
ZIM3021-0.886