South Africa-New Zealand semi-final analysis

[Harsh Thakor]

On March 24th the cricket world world witnessed one of it's classics.The game had the vibrations of an epic Hollywood thriller ending in an enthralling climax.The ebb and flow continuously swung in either direction with dramatic twists and turns.Ultimately the game was a victory for the game of cricket on the whole and it was tragic that it had a loser.Historically both teams deserved a place in the world cup final equally.On the factor of historical merit South Africa have played better than New Zealand overall since their entry into the international arena in One day Cricket while New Zealand overall have played consistently better in the world cup with a longer tenure.South Africa have a better record in head-on games but the Kiwis had made the semi-finals 6 times before as against South Africa's 3.Never in the history of world cup cricket after the innaugural edition in 1975 had 2 teams played a semi-final who had never qualified for a final before.Thus both teams shared the same jinx.South Africa were morally the best team in 1999 but after a tie against Australia in the semi-final an inferior run rate prevented them from qualifying .In 1992 rain robbed them when they had a 40% chance of wining the game against England.In 2007 they simply fizzled out against Australia.In 1996 and 2011 they were arguably the best team but lost in the quarter-finals.New Zealand were in 1992 the best team till they were eliminated by Pakistan .In 1979 they came inches within conquering England falling 9 runs short while in 2007 lost against Sri Lanka in a tournament where they were considered amongst the favourites.Infact in 1987 the Kiwis also came close to beating eventual champions Australia in the league stage twice while in 1983 were unlucky to be deprived of a place in the semi-final because of run rate.In the current edition New Zealand played much better than South Africa,remaining unbetaen while South Africa were beaten by both India and Pakistan.South Africa revitalized their form against Sri Lanka and arguably peaked.In the league stage South Africa wee lucky that they could gain 2nd place on the basis of better run -rate and not play Australia in the quarter-finals.The Kiwis beating of Australasia in nail -biter and thrashing of both England and Sri Lanka made them on performance the best team of the tournament. Man-to-man I still mantain the Proteas were the better team. In the recent series they had vanquished the kiwis by a 3-1 margin in aone day series on New Zealand soil.It has more match-winners than the Kiwis.The combination of Devilliers,Duplessis ,Amla,Miller,Dumminy and Rouissea with the bat and Steyn,Morkel,Philandeer and Tahitr with the ball would have been a handful for the Kiwis inspite of having the likes of Guptill,Mcullan,Boult Vettori and Anderson in their armoury.What won the day for the Kiwis was the superior mental strength,professionalism and organization.It was a victory of temperament,balance and organization over flair or match-winning talent.The Proteas floundered at crucial points when defending a mammoth target and faltered in the same way as they often did in run -chases in big tournaments,particularly in world cups.It was like the flame of history was burning again ,but here they were defending a score.It was the best batting exhibition I have seen by the Proteas in a world cup against strong opposition with batsmen like Devilliers,Duplessis and Miller blazing away.On merit I would have given South Africa a score of around 330-340 as they were 216-3 when the rain intervened.Considering the Kiwis had scored 299-6 of 42.5 overs I would have backed them to reach a target upto around 340.Remember the Proteas reached 281-5 because they made a mental calculation of playing for just 5 overs more. In the run -chase the most crucial junctures for the Kiwis was firstly the brutal assault of Brendon Mcullam who set the launching pad by taking the score to 71 of a mere 5 overs.It was like witnessing a hurricane on a cricket field,the likes of which we have never witnessed in a world cup semi-final.The 2nd one was the epic partnership between Cory Anderson and Grant Elliot who too their side under 50 runs of acheiving the 298 run target with 6 overs still to go.Finally it was the crucial 30 run 7th wicket partnership between Dettori and Elliot which sealed the game.The last over told the story in the contrasting manner of play of Elliot and Vettori in which Elliot ended the game in a flourish by hoisting Steyn for a six over the ropes.The Proteas were right back after they captured Mcullam and Williams in a short space of time and again after they dismissed Guptill and Taylor.At both these junctures the odds were even.With 94 still needed and 12 overs remaining Devilliers fumbled a certain run out of Anderson by failing to collect a throw.With 55 need of 7 overs and 6 wickets in hand the Kiwis were firm favourites but then Morkel brought them back spectacularly by dismissing Anderson and bring the run rate around 9 to win the game.Just as the Kiwis again gained the marginal edge The Proteas came back again when Ronchi was caught on the fence with 29 run still needed of 3 overs.After this we just saw the element of luck and temperament so much needed when the Proteas dropped a catch of Elliot with 14 need of 7 balls and with around 21 required missed a run out earlier.The fielders Berhadin and Dumminy clashed which prevented Berhadin from taking the catch while wicketkeper Decock was slow to collect the ball and dislodge the bails to run out Elliot.This set up the tempo for a classic finish with 12 required by the Kiwis with 4 wickets left.Rarely have we seen a world cup semi-final end in such a spectacular style with the kiwis hitting the final nails in the coffin with flourish rarely seen before.It almost looked as though they had pre-meditated their strokes.Devilliers steered a ball pitched on a length outside the of-stump for a boundary before running across to give Elliot the strike.With 5 needed of 2 balls Elliot decided he would hit a four or a six and like a boxer throwing a final knockout punch lifted Dale Steyn for a match-winning6.It is difficult to describe the emotions experienced.The Kiwi nerves had won the day.I can't express the grief on the faces of the South African players and it was heartening seeing how the Kiwis lifted them off the ground and consoled the South African team..Elliot lifted Steyn of the ground and Morkel was consoled.Never have we seen a better illustration of the emotional impact of victory and defeat when no team deserved to be a loser.It was the Kiwi nerves that won the day.Above all we witnessed great sportsmanship by the Proteas who went into the Kiwi dressing room to congratulate them.It is fitting that Jacques Kallis stated that morally it is not South Africa who lost but New Zealand who won.The Proteas took their defeat with a great sportsmanship and even Dale Stey wished the Kiwis the best wishes for winning the final. In my personal opinion if one team deserved to win it was New Zealand.This is because they were far more consistent in the tournament and inspite of chasing a staggering target for most of the run -chase they had the marginal edge.At 71-0 of 14 overs,128-2 of 17,243-4 of 37 and 268-5 after 40 it was the Kiwis who were the marginal favourites.9 out of 10 teams would defend this score but 1 in 10 would achieve it.South Africa lacked a fifth bowler and to me dropping Carlisle Abbot and playing Vernon Philanderer was a mistake.South Africa could hardly do justice to their bowling talent.In this game bowling 2nd was disadvantage as it rained and both the seamers and spinners could not properly grip the ball.It was also very slippery for the fielding side .To me I would not say that South Africa choked.They peaked at the right time and but for crucial lapses in the field would have won the game.Personally had South Africa won I would have given them a better chance to beat Australia in the final. I offer my commiserations to South Africa and my greatest admiration for their sportsmanship.With a bit of luck they may have won this world cup and almost certainly the edition of 1999.They also came close in 1992 while in 1996 faltered after being the best team.Arguably since their re-entry into the international arena about 4 times they have been man -to-man the best team in the world cup.I wish them all the luck to break the jinx in the future.Overall to me they are still the most talented team of the world cup.The loss of a fifth bowler and genuine all-rounder went against them.Even past teams did not surpass the talent of Amla,Devillers ,Steyn or Tahir.Overall ,however the 1999 tea or even 1992 was more balanced.No team deserves a world cup title more than South Africa.

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[Vicky95]

Classic GIFs :cantstop: Harsh, try to make your essay more reader-friendly by highlighting important points and using bullet points if you want more people to read your analysis.