The Black Caps have been handed their first defeat of this year’s Twenty20 World Cup, falling to a seven-wicket defeat to South Africa in Ahmedabad.
With both sides effectively through to the tournament’s Super Eight stage regardless, Sunday morning’s (NZT) clash at Narendra Modi Stadium was effectively a free hit for whoever lost.
However, as the Black Caps mustered 175-7 from their 20 overs, the Proteas’ power-packed batting unit demoralised the Kiwi bowlers, won with 17 balls to spare, and continued South Africa’s proud record of never losing to New Zealand in a T20 World Cup.
And at a time where New Zealand Cricket ponders the direction of the shortest format at domestic level, South Africa’s example - having introduced their own franchise league in 2023 - should serve as clear indication of where the future lies.
Having travelled from Chennai, the Black Caps were perhaps disadvantaged at having to face South Africa in their third game in Ahmedabad - the scene of their dramatic double Super Over win over Afghanistan earlier in the week.
Showing understanding of the conditions, and fortunate to bowl before the dew set in later in the night, Marco Jansen (4-40) was New Zealand’s tormentor with the ball, removing four of the Black Caps’ top five batters.
A 74-run partnership between Mark Chapman (48 off 26) and Daryl Mitchell (32 off 24) looked to have begun to set the platform for a competitive total. After that, though, New Zealand limped to a total that was, in reality, 50 runs shy of competitive.
Come time to chase, South Africa’s waltz to victory was led by captain Aidan Markram, who plundered 86 not out from 44 balls, with eight boundaries and four sixes. South Africa’s win could have been more comprehensive, having raced to 83-1 inside the power play, only to slow down once the fielding restrictions came into effect.
The Black Caps can bounce back in their final group stage match against Canada in Chennai on Tuesday, as one last hit out before the Super Eights, barring an unthinkable defeat and opening the door for Afghanistan to sneak into the next stage.
While the Black Caps openers added a T20 World Cup record 175 together five days earlier, the higher quality of South Africa’s attack told inside the power play. Tim Seifert (13) and Rachin Ravindra (13) went cheaply, while Finn Allen hit four fours and two sixes on his way to a 17-ball 31, only to perish when he was caught at mid off.
Despite losing their top three, New Zealand’s 58-3 was still a respectable score from the power play, only to see Glenn Phillips (1) drag back onto his stumps off Keshav Maharaj (1-24) four balls later.
At 64-4, Mitchell joined Chapman to try and rebuild the innings, where a 50-run stand in 30 balls began to dig the Black Caps out of trouble.
Chapman was the more aggressive of the two, and hit six boundaries and two sixes in his knock, and looked to have swung momentum back towards the Black Caps.
Once he was out with a half-century in sight, spooning Jansen to Ryan Rickelton inside the circle, New Zealand’s recovery came undone.
As the last batter standing, Mitchell couldn’t add the finishing touches. A string of dots saw him forced to hit out or get out two overs later, only to fall to Lungi Ngidi, caught by long-off.
From 138-4 when Chapman and Mitchell were together in the 14th over, the Black Caps could only manage 37-3 in the innings’ final 37 balls.
In reply, South Africa’s openers needed just 19 balls to raise the first 50; New Zealand’s quicks were helpless.
A six straight down the ground off Mitchell Santner took Markram to 50 off 19 balls, before he raised the team’s 100 with a back cut off Neesham (1-15) in the eighth over, and took the required rate to less than a run a ball.
From there, despite the loss of Quinton de Kock (20), Ryan Rickelton (21) and Dewald Brevis (21), South Africa were never in danger of falling short.
On 69, Markram offered Ferguson a return catch, only to be given a life, and the chance to see his country home, as David Miller (24 not out) hammered one last six as the exclamation point on South Africa’s win.
New Zealand 175-7 (Chapman 48; Jansen 4-40)
South Africa 178-3 (Markram 86 not out; Ravindra 1-9)
South Africa win by seven wickets
Alex Powell is a sports journalist for the NZ Herald. He has been a sports journalist since 2016.