The Independent Voice of West Indies Cricket
Venue: Eden Gardens, Kolkata
What to expect: Another high-scoring game? This match will be played on the pitch adjacent to the one that had India take on West Indies, so the square boundary dimensions are nearly equal. Once again, the surface looks dry.
What they said:
"The other night [India vs West Indies] it was pretty flat. I think there's still a role to play for the spinners. Also seamers. And I think the ground dimensions plays a massive part. I mean in Sri Lanka, we had a big side for both of those games. Whereas it's a little bit smaller here, a bit more central. So, again, it's [about] adapting on the fly." - New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner
"[I've] been very fortunate to lead some really strong teams, a great mix of some younger guys and with a lot of experience in the older guys. You feed off the senior guys in the team, you lean on them a lot and they help guide you and lead you when you have a few doubts and I think because of that and a really strong group of players over the years, we've developed that." - South Africa captain Aiden Markram
- David Miller has 249 runs in 9 T20s in Eden Gardens at an average of 62.25 and a strike rate of 148.21
- South Africa have scored with a run-rate of 9.65 in the middle-overs (7-15) in the T20 World Cup - the best among all teams. New Zealand are third on the list, with 9.20.
- Lockie Ferguson has dismissed Quinton de Kock three times in the 23 balls bowled to him across four T20 innings.
- Against South Africa's best bowler of the tournament - Lungi Ngidi - Finn Allen has scored at a staggering strike rate of 277.77 in T20s [50 runs off 18 balls].
@Narper
my two favourite teams since WI are not in the semis. Pity that the draw was such that they could not meet in the finals. Good luck to both. NZ is really becoming the Germany of cricket. Always there. No fuss. No muss. Just like a cockroach. Always there
@PalsofMine
The draw or the fact that NZ did not top the group?
New Zealand (Playing XI):
Tim Seifert(w), Finn Allen, Rachin Ravindra, Glenn Phillips, Mark Chapman, Daryl Mitchell, James Neesham, Mitchell Santner(c), Cole McConchie, Matt Henry, Lockie Ferguson
South Africa (Playing XI):
Aiden Markram(c), Quinton de Kock(w), Ryan Rickelton, Dewald Brevis, David Miller, Tristan Stubbs, Marco Jansen, Corbin Bosch, Kagiso Rabada, Keshav Maharaj, Lungi Ngidi
New Zealand have won the toss and have opted to field
0.5
6
Matt Henry to Quinton de Kock, SIX, rusty? What rusty says Quinny de Kock. Gets off the mark with an eye-pleasing maximum. The length was short and the line - right in the swinging arc just outside off. QDK clears his front leg and dispatches the pull flat over the deep square fence
1.3
4
Cole McConchie to Quinton de Kock, FOUR, with mid-on inside the ring QDK wanted to take Cole McConchie down town and he succeeds!
1.4
W
Cole McConchie to Quinton de Kock, out Caught by Lockie Ferguson!! Cole McConchie may not have played enough games in international cricket, but he's played a million games in domestic cricket and he's a wily customer mind you. Not disheartened by the fact that QDK took him for a four down the ground, he persists with the shorter length and gets the ball to jump on him. No room either. QDK goes for the sloggy pull and gets more height than distance. Lockie steadies himself at mid-on and takes it comfortably.
Quinton de Kock c Lockie Ferguson b Cole McConchie 10(
[4s-1 6s-1]
1.5
W
Cole McConchie to Ryan Rickelton, out Caught by Finn Allen!! Cole McConchie strikes again. He's on a hat-trick now. Drops the ball short and wide of off stump. Rickelton felt that was a wonderful opportunity to get off the mark and went for the slash. Comes off the thick outside half and offers catching practice to Finn Allen at backward point. What a wonderful start this for the Kiwis.
Ryan Rickelton c Finn Allen b Cole McConchie 0(1)
3.3
Lockie Ferguson to Aiden Markram, no run, dropped! That was the trap delivery, but it did not go to plan. Length ball angled into the pads, enticing Markram to go for the whippy flick
5.6
Lockie Ferguson to Aiden Markram, no run, oh dear! Tim Seifert takes a glancing blow to his face. Just under the left eye. It was dug in short outside off The fielders look a bit concerned, but the physio rushes out to check on Seifert. Doesn't appear to be anything serious and we are good to go again...Seifert tried to take it with his gloves pointing towards the bowler, but the ball wobbled late and ended up deflecting off the inside part of his mitts. Good news for the Kiwis as Seifert cleared the concussion test...
RSA 48-2(6) CRR:8