Opinion: Proteas’ World Cup hopes crashed

The Proteas’ hopes of reaching the semi-finals of the 2019 men’s ICC Cricket World Cup are all but dashed following their latest display.

This came in the form of a last gasp four-wicket loss to tournament dark horses and one of only two unbeaten teams in the world cup so far, New Zealand, at Edgbaston on June 19.

The Proteas seemed to have, at one point at least, had the better of their opponents as the fast men ran in to have the team from the land of the long white cloud teetering on 80 runs for the loss of four wickets. The lanky Chris Morris delivered most of the devastation during this time. He was not finished.

Also read: Ncube the faster Comrades runner in Bedfordview and Edenvale

Jimmy Neesham came in and he and skipper Kane Williamson combined for a measured partnership of 57 runs. That man Morris once again ran in and this time, had Neesham knicking one off behind slip which Hashim Amla coolly collected and held onto. After this, New Zealand, still with depth in their batting, had Colin de Grandhomme stride to the wicket.

This started a most anti-climatic and unscripted run chase for the Proteas – reminiscent of the 2011 World Cup where The Black Caps induced similar heartbreak, although in the quarter-finals that time. A whirlpool 91-run partnership between Williamson and de Grandhomme was just the foundation New Zealand needed, the only scare coming at the start of the 47th over when de Grandhomme held out for a well played 60 runs.

It was the bat of Williamson that closed the lid on the encounter, a six of the second ball of the 48th over finding the other side of the boundary, and the next run (or two) of the same bat closing the match out. Williamson was the star as he finished on 106 not out from 138 deliveries.

For more news and interesting articles, like Bedfordview and Edenvale NEWS on Facebook or follow us on Twitter