New Zealand beat South Africa by 50 runs in Wednesday’s Champions Trophy semi-final in Lahore, Pakistan.
Batsman David Miller hit a century and captain Temba Bavuma a half-ton as the Proteas totalled 312 for nine in reply to New Zealand’s 362 for six. Batsman Rassie van der Dussen also hit a half-century.
“Ideally, you would’ve wanted the both of us, Rassie and me, to keep going – at least until the 30th over,” said Bavuma.
“We know how destructive our middle order can be when they’re coming in that last 20 overs. Unfortunately, we weren’t able to set that foundation for them. Little bit of a soft dismissal, at least from my side. I think that just left too much for our middle order.
“I do think the target was above par. I think as well as they bat, we felt that if the target was anything around 350 – not over 350 – we’d back ourselves to chase the score with the wicket hopefully getting better.
“From a batting point of view, we just weren’t able to really get those partnerships. There were one or two partnerships there, but I think you probably needed either myself or Rassie to go on and emulate what their top four batters did.
“It was always going to require someone to play well. We had David who did that, but we probably needed someone else as well.”
All-rounder Rachin Ravindra was named Player of the Match after striking a century, taking the wicket of batsman Aiden Markram and holding two catches. Former captain Kane Williamson also hit a ton.
“Credit to their betters, Kane, Rachin, and even the guys who came in as well – Mitchell Santner, as well as Glenn Phillips. They put us under pressure with the bat,” concluded Bavuma.
“They really put us under pressure from the get-go, with the way they were able to pierce the off side, and I think even in the middle overs, how they were able to just keep scoring boundaries.”
MORE latest SA cricket news
- Vernon Philander questions absence of ‘effective’ Tabraiz Shamsi
- Rob Walter: I don’t think it was any one particular thing that resulted in the loss
- David Miller: I’ll be honest – I think I’ll be supporting New Zealand
- Proteas collect another Champions Trophy semi-final exit
- Lungi Ngidi faster than Dale Steyn to 100 ODI wickets
- Proteas seamer joins Middlesex for County Championship
- Heinrich Klaasen: I want to be the best in the world
- Matthew Breetzke breaks world record
- JP Duminy: I am taking a break from coaching
- Rassie van der Dussen rejected county offer