South Africa vs New Zealand, 32nd Match at Pune,World Cup 2023, Nov 01 2023 - Match Result

Major problems for New Zealand, particularly with injuries all around. For South Africa, it's as good as it gets. With six wins, they look well on course to make the semis. 2011 finalists India will play Sri Lanka tomorrow in Mumbai, after Sachin's statue has been unveiled. See you for that. Bye for now.

Adam: "As open as it is, PAK and AFG got realistic chance to enter semis. NZ need at least a win to seal their chance and hope the Net RR remains above them. "

Temba Bavuma: Clinical display with bat. Handled the challenge with the ball nipping around. We applied pressure with the ball. We tried to pounce on bad balls, Quinny started slowly, hung in there and cashed in at the end. More than the score, we were trying to stay in till 30 and go big later on. We were always looking to dominate with the new ball and middle overs. Knew they'd come hard at us and we'd get opportunities. Gotta hear the permutations about making the semi. After tomorrow, it's back to business, gotta prepare for the next game.

Tom Latham: Not our best performance. We were put under massive pressure by QDK and Rassie. To be five down early was disappointing with the way it panned out. I don't think I'd bat first had there been another chance. It was a decent surface. If we'd restricted them to 330-340 it'd have been better. We weren't able to capitalise with bat either. Injuries are adversities, gotta see how they shape up. Small turnaround, so we gotta reflect now and move on to Bangalore.

Rassie van der Dussen, POTM They bowled well upfront. Run rate was hovering at 4 an over. We had to work hard Quinny played brilliantly and guided me. We batted together nicely, and we went big as the ball went softer. Wicket was one where if bowlers hit a length, there was something in it for them. Test match lengths were tough to manufacture shots to, we communicated that to the bowlers and, with bat, tried to push through. Quinny was reminding me to keep my shape, respect good balls. It's tough to hit through the line right away. Miller and Co made it look easy. We were thinking about 300-320 as a score but sky is the limit with our middle order. Very pleased to win by a big marging, was an out-and-out team performance which was great.

9:10pm As thumping a win as any for South Africa. It's barely a surprise for them anymore, given how they're piling on the runs. Questions will be asked about Latham choosing to bowl. Coming to the chase, New Zealand never stood a chance. Jansen struck twice in the powerplay. Ngidi also kept it tight. Coetzee took out Young, who was starting to look good, right after and the slide just went further from thereon. Maharaj was generous with his flight but not pace, he lured out middle and late-middle-order batters and finished with a four-for. Neesham and Henry came out to bat despite not being fully fit. It helped reduce the loss margin and Phillips to get to fifty but South Africa complete a fuss-free thumping win nonetheless.

CHANDRA MOHAN: "@HAA - As you wish..Rabada indeed end this tiresome last wicket :-)"

HAA: "Rabada needed to end this tiresome last wicket wait" Coetzee still on for now

Slip in, so is catching mid-off

Around

Two men back on the leg side

Crowd figure from Pune: 31,914

Darryl: "If they are not going to run then what is the point of risking Henry?"