All forms of cricket have witnessed some legendary rivalries. And one of the most electrifying battles is seen between the national cricket team of South Africa and New Zealand. Years have gone by, and these two teams have been battling each other in so many different formats, and memories that such match-ups have etched in the minds of cricketing fans around the world are simply unforgettable.
Both teams have glorious pasts, South Africa has produced legends like Jacques Kallis and AB de Villiers, and Shaun Pollock among others, New Zealand had their heroes in Kane Williamson and Brendon McCullum. Most matches between these teams are closely fought games, some with nail-biting finishes, brilliant centuries, and stunning bowling spells.
In the article, we break down a recent South Africa National Cricket Team vs New Zealand National Cricket Team Match Scorecard and performance analysis.
Match Overview: South Africa National Cricket Team vs New Zealand National Cricket Team Match
Going into this match, South Africa were carrying a great record in the tournament. They came out on top both in their batting and bowling circles. Quinton de Kock continued doing it all at the World Cup as he smashed his fourth century in the tournament, while Temba Bavuma and Rassie van der Dussen gave a commando partnership.
On the other hand, New Zealand, one of the toughest competitors of the game, could not play smoothly with a batting lineup that went down totally under pressure from South Africa’s toothy bowling attack with not so good starts from their bowlers.
Key Highlights South Africa vs New Zealand:
- Quinton de Kock smashes an awesome century (104 off 88 balls).
- David Miller made it crucial 65 runs off 40 balls which just meant too much for South Africa.
- Tabraiz Shamsi took 4 wickets and shattered New Zealand batting.
- New Zealand batsmen were all out at a score of just 167 runs off 35.3 overs.
South Africa National Cricket Team vs New Zealand National Cricket Team Match Scorecard of both innings
South Africa Innings Scorecard
| Batsman | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s | Strike Rate |
| Quinton de Kock | 104 | 88 | 10 | 3 | 118.18 |
| Temba Bavuma | 45 | 52 | 4 | 1 | 86.54 |
| Rassie van der Dussen | 76 | 92 | 8 | 1 | 82.61 |
| David Miller | 65 | 40 | 5 | 4 | 162.50 |
| Extras | 10 | – | – | – | – |
| Total | 300/6 | 50 Overs | – | – | – |
New Zealand Bowling Scorecard
| Bowler | Overs | Maidens | Runs | Wickets | Economy |
| Trent Boult | 10 | 0 | 54 | 2 | 5.40 |
| Tim Southee | 10 | 0 | 62 | 1 | 6.20 |
| Mitchell Santner | 10 | 1 | 50 | 0 | 5.00 |
| Matt Henry | 10 | 0 | 63 | 1 | 6.30 |
| James Neesham | 10 | 0 | 71 | 2 | 7.10 |
New Zealand Innings Scorecard
| Batsman | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s | Strike Rate |
| Devon Conway | 32 | 38 | 5 | 1 | 84.21 |
| Kane Williamson | 45 | 54 | 6 | 0 | 83.33 |
| Daryl Mitchell | 25 | 28 | 3 | 1 | 89.29 |
| Glenn Phillips | 18 | 23 | 2 | 0 | 78.26 |
| Tom Latham | 22 | 30 | 2 | 0 | 73.33 |
| Extras | 10 | – | – | – | – |
| Total | 167 All Out | 35.3 Overs | – | – | – |
South Africa Bowling Scorecard
| Bowler | Overs | Maidens | Runs | Wickets | Economy |
| Tabraiz Shamsi | 8 | 0 | 35 | 4 | 4.37 |
| Keshav Maharaj | 7 | 0 | 28 | 2 | 4.00 |
| Marco Jansen | 9.3 | 0 | 45 | 2 | 4.74 |
| Kagiso Rabada | 7 | 0 | 39 | 1 | 5.57 |
| Lungi Ngidi | 4 | 0 | 18 | 0 | 4.50 |
South Africa vs New Zealand Match Scorecard Analysis
South Africa’s batting order was too strong for New Zealand. In the batting department, South Africa had Top-heavy virtue in the form of Quinton de Kock and Rassie van der Dussen which gave the team a very good base. The South African bowlers, in particular, Tabraiz Shamsi, shattered New Zealand’s hope of reviving themselves as he grabbed wickets at short intervals and strictly kept control on the run rate.
New Zealand failed to build their partnerships, and Kane Williamson had no tasks left to handle the South African spin and pace attack. Dropping some catches with no pressure in the initial stages of the game made South Africa get a challenging total.
Conclusion
A match in which South Africa dominated both batting and bowling was the classic example of South African cricket. They proved it, as their top-order firing merged with the great show by the bowlers to ensure a comprehensive win for South Africa. It’s been a tough outing for New Zealand but the spirit of the Kiwis and their resolve to compete will keep them on this track for the future clash between the two teams.
The two teams are definitely to look forward to more fights when the present rivalry will reignite the excitement in Cricket-loving fans worldwide.
Also read: Pakistan National Cricket Team vs India National Cricket Team Match Scorecard