Key events
42nd over: South Africa 237-8 (Miller 40, Rabada 4) Target 363 Miller’s seen enough, retreating into the crease before carting Phillips from outside off into the stand at midwicket. A dot follows, then a thwack over cover for four, but with just a single from the final delivery, we have an over that yields 11 that is also off the required rate.
41st over: South Africa 226-8 (Miller 29, Rabada 4) Target 363 Santner, 3-29 off seven, returns, and cedes three singles; had Ravindra not contributed a key wicket and a catch, I might’ve been bigging him up as my POTM. Whether he can bowl like this against India’s experts remains to be seen; he’s going to have to.
40th over: South Africa 223-8 (Miller 27, Rabada 3) Target 363 Rabada misses with a flick, just, so a wide is added to the total; two singles and a two follow, and by the looks of things Miller is just going to let this match expire without throwing hands. The rate is 14.00.
WICKET! Maharaj c Latham b Phillip 1 (South Africa 218-8)
And he only needs two! A flat one, fired towards leg-stump, and looking to turn it around the corner, Maharaj gloves and Latham is right there behind him waiting for exactly this eventuality, taking a fine catch,
40th over: South Africa 218-7 (Miller 25, Maharaj 1) Target 363 Phillips continues, Miller taking a single from his first ball to give him five balls at Maharaj.
39th over: South Africa 217-7 (Miller 25, Maharaj 1) Target 363 The rate is 12.58 at the start of this over, so Miller twizzles Ravindra into the on side for two; three singles follow.
“Around the dawn of the new millennium,” begins Krishnamoorthy V, “before the abomination called T20 destroyed proper cricket, there used to be a rule of thumb: double the score you have at the end of over number 30. So, SA is almost there. But then SA are the Arsenal of cricket!”
Funny, I’d probably have had them as Spurs, presumably for similar reasons.
REVIEW! WICKET! Jansen lbw b Phillips 3 (South Africa 212-7)
Yup, Jansen misses, the ball would’ve hit leg, and he has to depart.
38th over: South Africa 212-6 (Miller 21, Jansen 3) Target 363 India in Abu Dhabi, though, pose an entirely different challenge; NZ are good enough to take it on, don’t worry about that, but need to be near-perfect to win, whereas India have more ways to force the issue. Miller hasn’t given up, however, ands when NZ introduce Phillips to the attack, he zetzes over midwicket for six after the first three balls of the over yield three singles. There’s then a short recess while the ball is retrieved – there’s a ladder involved and, when we resume it’s not clear if we’re using the original one or a replacement. Anyroad, Jansen then misses with a sweep, ther ball hits thepad, and when the umpire turns down the appeal, we go upstairs….
37th over: South Africa 202-6 (Miller 13, Jansen 1) Target 363 I said at the start that I didn’t expect SA to get close, but I imagined them trying to start like billy-o and losing wickets, not staying in the game then swiftly expiring. We must, though credit NZ, whose spinners have bowled well, Ravindra easing through another over for the cost of two; he’s now 1-15 off four, a lovely boy with good hair having the time of his life – to our collective joy.
WICKET! Mulder c Ravindra b Bracewell 8 (South Africa 200-6)
Bracewell gives one a bit of air and Mulder has no choice but to attack, heaving a pull to the man at deep square. If it was already over before, it’s absolutely over now.
36th over: South Africa 200-5 (Miller 12, Mulder 8) Target 363 The required rate is 11.33 as Bracewell ambles in again; meantime, we see footage of Markram remonstrating his dismissal with some handily located kit. Where theres Miller, though, there’s a modicum of hope, and as I type he laps a reverse-sweep for four; two singles follow.
35th over: South Africa 194-5 (Miller 11, Mulder 3) Target 363 We watching Ravindra’s last over and he sent down five balls in similar area, then tried a drag-down, and that was what forced the error from Markram, who’ll be steaming he got out to that, from him. And the man of the moment is at it again, ceding two to Muldder from his second ball via drive to cover, responding with four dots, the last of them a beauty, straightening past the outside edge.
34th over: South Africa 191-5 (Miller 10, Mulder 1) Target 363 Bracewell whistles through another cheap over, two singles from it, and the required rate is now 10.75. Drinks, and SA had better hope theirs is a stiff one.
WICKET! Markram c & b Ravindra 31 (South Africa 189-5)
Destructive batting, useful bowling, luxuriant hair; is there anything Rachin Ravindra can’t do? They’v’e a saying in Pakistan, “pace is pace”, but in other tautologies, pressure is pressure, and it gets big on Markram who looks to force one, checks it, and plops back a return catch. That, surely, is the match.
33rd over: South Africa 189-4 (Markram 31, Miller 9) Target 363 Santner will get credit for his bowling, but he’s also husbanded his attack intelligently, using the right men at the right time. Rvindra cedes just four singles from his first five balls, and SA badly need a boundary from the last one.
32nd over: South Africa 185-4 (Markram 29, Miller 7) Target 363 A wide, a single and a dot; surely Miller will go at something in the second half of the over? Er, no. He shoves to point, Markram does similarly to long-on, and an over that yields four is now what you need when the required rate is nearing 10.
31st over: South Africa 181-4 (Markram 27, Miller 6) Target 363 Ravindra into the attack and, after a single to Markram, Miller has a look at one then decides he’s seen enough, stretching into a drive over mid-off that races to the fence. Two further singles make it seven off the over, and at this stage, that isn’t really enough.
30th over: South Africa 174-4 (Markram 25, Miller 1) Target 363 If NZ win, Santner will have a lot of work to do in the final, given it’s at Abu Dhabi. But back to the here and now, Henry is off the field and if he can’t bowl again, SA will have a chance to get after whoever takes his allocation. For that to happen, though, they’ll need to stick within striking distance; as I type, Markram swipes a terrific pull over midwicket for four. A single follows, the third of the over, and the rate is now 10.45; averaging that for 20 overs is a lot to ask.
29th over: South Africa 166-4 (Markram 18, Miller 0) Target 363 Henry looks in some discomfort, but he did so well to take that catch; his captain now has threefer and that might just be a matchwinning contribution. If SA are going to do it, this pair will probably have to do most of the work,
WICKET! Klaasen c Henry b Santner 3 (South Africa 167-3)
Klaasen muscles high down the ground but doesn’t get enough of it, Henry running in, sinking down to his knees, and diving underneath the ball as it dies, in full knowledge that his shoulder is taking the brunt of the impact; he almost rams it into the turf, so desperate is he to hang on. The danger man goes, and might this be the beginning of the end?
29th over: South Africa 167-3 (Markram 19, Klassen 3) Target 363 One off two balls and the rate sneaks above nine; it’s a lot to average that many for 22 overs.
28th over: South Africa 166-3 (Markram 18, Klassen 3) Target 363 With a new batter facing, I’m not surprised Santner sticks with O’Rourke, hoping to finagle a cheap over from his most expensive bowler. And four singles tells us the ploy works nicely, the required rate now up at 8.95; SA have a lot to do from here, but still a few men who can thwack it.
27th over: South Africa 162-3 (Markram 16, Klaasen 2) Target 363 Klaasen gets off the mark to long-off, and this might well be the key partnership.
WICKET! Rassie van der Dussen b Santner 69 (South Africa 161-3)
Ooooh yeah! Santner again lands one on a length, it grips, spins away from the bat as Van der Dussen presses forward looking to turn into the on side, and spirits through the gate, crashing into middle. That was a sensational delivery.
27th over: South Africa 161-2 (Van der Dussen 69, Markram 16) Target 363 Van der Dussen takes one down the ground, then Markram drives to pint and they scamper through for two; had Smith’s throw hit it might’ve been gone.
26th over: South Africa 157-2 (Van der Dussen 68, Markram 13) Target 363 O’Rourke returns and his loosener offers width and length, Markram caressing a gorgeous cover-drive to the fence for four. A single follows, and might this be one of those overs which are keeping SA in the hunt? Yessir! Offered bounce, Van der Dussen hauls from outside off over mid-on for four more then, after a single, Markram plays another Proper Cricket Shot – is that our equivalent of The Wire’s “good police”? – and 14 off the over is exactly what was required.
25th over: South Africa 143-2 (Van der Dussen 63, Markram 4) Target 363 The way SA are going about this – sticking in the match without really going after it – NZ aren’t under that much pressure. As such, the spinners are being allowed to bowl, and this latest Santner over goes for four singles; at halfway, NZ were 143-1, but relying on going mad later on is a risky strategy.
24th over: South Africa 139-2 (Van der Dussen 61, Markram 2) Target 363 SA need too many to knock it about now in the hope of catching up later, and when they manage just four from Bracewell’s first four deliveries, they’re under pressure – all the more so given Markram is playing only because he passed a late fitness test. But, as I type, Van der Dussen steps and leans forward, smiting six over midwicket! That was sorely needed, a single makes it 11 off the over, and the required rate now stands at 8.61.
23rd over: South Africa 128-2 (Van der Dussen 51, Markram 1) Target 363 Markram squirts a single and wide follows, then one to cover; three runs and a wicket off a captain’s over from Santner.
WICKET! Bavuma c Williamson b Santner 56 (South Africa 125-2)
Moved from midwicket to backward point after hurting his hand not taking a catch, when Bavuma bulls down and looks thrash over the top, slicing instead, Williamson is in the right place to hold a crucial snaffle. Santner bowled that so slowly it was almost going backwards, and that, along with late-doors dip, is what do for the SA skipper.
22nd over: South Africa 125-1 (Bavuma 56, Van der Dussen 50) Target 363 Bavuma flicks over his shoulder for two – that’s the 100 partnership off 100 balls – then after Van der Dussen adds one, he does the same again. A cut to cover then makes Van der Dussen’s 50 – off 51 deliveries – before Bavuma completes the over with a single down the ground.
“As you say,” emails Mark Beadle, “this isn’t that bad a position at the moment. If they can get to 180 in the 30th with fewer than 4 wickets down, they’re right in it.”
I agree. I’m trying to retain composure, but you’re making me say it: this is shaping into a finish for the ages.
21st over: South Africa 118-1 (Bavuma 52, Van der Dussen 47) Target 363 Bavuma slaps uppishly towards midwicket and Williamson sees it all the way, diving right … only to palm into the turf! That wasn’t an easy chance but once he was there I fully expected him to take it; the pain is forced home next ball when Santner lands one in the slot, Van der Dussen stretching those Mr Tickle arms to slam six over long-on. A two and two ones complete an 11-run over, SA still righting themselves every time they appear to be drifting.
20th over: South Africa 107-1 (Bavuma 50, Van der Dussen 38) Target 363 Bavuma punches into the off-side, the single raising his fifty … and it’s the only run from the over. That’s one run from each of the last two overs, not really practicable when chasing 363. the required rate is now 8.53.
19th over: South Africa 106-1 (Bavuma 49, Van der Dussen 38) Target 363 Santner, though, responds really well to an expensive previous over, brave enough to toss them up and seeing Bavuma let him, beating the bat with a gorgeous fifth ball that yanks the batter forward, bounces, spins away … and passes over thee top of the stumps! Goodness me, that was a nut, and the over concludes with a single, the only run from it. Excellent work from the NZ captain.
18th over: South Africa 105-1 (Bavuma 48, Van der Dussen 38) Target 363 Nice from Van der Dussen, stepping towards off and tickling a ramp for three; a leg-side wide follows, then Bavuma steps, skips, and now facing a half-volley, toes over the infield for four. I don’t know, maybe this is the most cunningly-navigated chase ever – Bavuma looks calm out there – and three singles complete the over. Given the batting SA have to come and the might of the total they’re seeking, they’re not badly placed really.
17th over: South Africa 94-1 (Bavuma 42, Van der Dussen 34) Target 363 Santner introduces himself to the attack and he’ll desperately want to break this partnership; SA must surely look to victimise him. But its singles from his first two deliveries, then he slants one into Bavuma’s pad and appeals, but it was going down and there was, I think, also an edge; other than that, though, it was plumb. Two further singles complete the scoring from the over as we see a replay of Phillips throwing in awkwardly and intimating back pain; the required rate is now up to 8.15.
16th over: South Africa 90-1 (Bavuma 38, Van der Dussen 30) Target 363 It’s quite an effort for boots to clash with both SA colours, but Van der Dussen has pulled it off effortlessly. And after a wide, he turns to long-on for one then, back on strike, his mistimed flick drops just shy of midwicket. Two more singles make it five from this latest Bracewell over, and SA are doing just enough to stick in this; drinks.
15th over: South Africa 85-1 (Bavuma 38, Van der Dussen 30) Target 363 Thrree balls, three singles, the last of them pinched to Phillips, who shies and misses – though Bavuma was in. Oh, and when Van der Dussen hits to mid-off, they go again, but Santner can’t pick up smoothly; had he managed, it was trouble. Two more ones complete the other, six from it, and the sense here is of a rollercoaster clicking up a slope before it flings itself over the other side.
14th over: South Africa 79-1 (Bavuma 35, Van der Dussen 27) Target 363 I was a little surprised SA allowed Bracewell to twirl though his first over, largely unmolested; surely there’ll be an attack in his second? Er, not really. Vaan der Dussen adds a pinched single to midwicket, Bavuma comes down and fiddles to long on, and that’s just two from the over. The required rate is 7.88, and given these two have taken time in setting, you feel they’ve got to cash in at some point.
13th over: South Africa 77-1 (Bavuma 34, Van der Dussen 26) Target 363 Eeesh, O’Rourke is allowed a second over and Van der Dussen chips over the top, just, for two; if the fielder is two yards further back, it’s gone. Two singles follow while, off the pitch, Phillips is treated after hurting himself making that stop in the last over; SA have slowed again.
12th over: South Africa 72-1 (Bavuma 33, Van der Dussen 22) Target 363 Time for spin, Bracewell into the attack, and when Van der Dussen clips his loosener firmly towards midwicket, Phillips makes a fine stop, saving four. The remainder of the over yields three singles, the first raising the fifty partnership off forty balls.
11th over: South Africa 69-1 (Bavuma 32, Van der Dussen 20) Target 363 O’Rourke replaces Henry and opens with a wide half-volley which Van der Dussen does not, cannot, allow to go unpunished, stretching to marmalise four through cover. This is boiling now, singles off the next two balls keeping the score moving – SA need boundaries but early doors, they allowed way too many dots – and as I type, Van der Dussen smokes a drive only to pick out the fielder. No matter: O’Rourke leaps wide of the crease, launches a cross-seamer that crowds Bavuma … and is edged for four. A run-down to third follows, they run two, and that’s 13 off the over, three belters in a row for SA. Thinking to do for Mitchell Santner.
10th over: South Africa 56-1 (Bavuma 25, Van der Dussen 14) Target 363 That plan of Bavuma’s? It’s here! Jamieson bangs in short and the SA captain wastes no time getting forward before spinning into a pull, launched over deep backward for six. Two to square leg follows, then two more from a drive that squirts into the on side, and that’s 10 added for the second over in a row, the crowd now chanting Bavuma’s name. The required rate is now 7.67.
9th over: South Africa 46-1 (Bavuma 15, Van der Dussen 14) Target 363 Van der Dussen nudges one to mid-off and they sprint through, then Bavuma steps outside the line in order to make room … and he lofts powerfully over mid-off for four; about time and more like it. A run-down for one follows, then Van der Dussen crouches, rises, takes a little step, then leans back and drives through cover for four. He’s tall enough to mess with Henry’s length, and South Africa badly needed that.