Captain Kane Williamson's patient unbeaten century led New Zealand to a tense four-wicket victory over South Africa in a low-scoring Cricket World Cup match at Edgbaston on Wednesday.
Chasing 242 to win a match reduced to 49 overs a side by rain, New Zealand looked set to comfortably reach the target with Martin Guptill and Williamson at the crease.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel. But South Africa fast bowler Chris Morris picked up three wickets to leave New Zealand struggling at 137-5 before Williamson (106 not out) and Colin de Grandhomme (60) shared a 91-run partnership.
De Grandhomme fell before the end but Williamson reached his century with a six in the final over and guided New Zealand to their fourth win of the tournament with three balls to spare.
Earlier, South Africa's batsmen apart from Hashim Amla and Rassie van der Dussen failed to build on starts after being put into bat in the face of a disciplined bowling effort from the Kiwis.
Amla was bowled for 55 by Mitchell Santner but Van der Dussen's unbeaten 67 off 64 balls gave the South Africans a respectable total to defend.
The result left South Africa, who have won only one match, virtually out of the running for a semi-final spot while New Zealand kept their unbeaten run intact to move to the top of the standings with four wins in five games. (Reuters)
South Africa pacers have put New Zealand in a spot of bother, dismantling the Kiwis top order to see them struggling at 94 for four after 21 overs.
Kagiso Rabada started the damage by removing Collin Munro early. However, when Martin Guptill and Kiwi skipper Kane Williamson started the repair work, it was Andile Phehlukwayo who removed the former on 35 before Chris Morris struck twice in quick succession to keep the Proteas hope alive in their must-win encounter today at Edgbaston in Birmingham today.
SA post 241 for six in must-win fixture
New Zealand have restricted South Africa to 241 for six in 49 overs courtesy of a decent economical spells from their bowlers.
The Proteas innings never got going with Trent Boult bagging Quinton de Kock early on. Hashim Amla played a steady 55-run knock but Kiwis managed to keep the run-rate in check. Van de Dussen struck a lively 64-ball 67 with some big hits towards the death end of the innings to take South Africa to 241 for six in the 49-over match. Lockie Ferguson bagged three wickets for 59 runs.
Pacemen Trent Boult and Lockie Ferguson put New Zealand on top against South Africa as the Proteas' struggled once again at the World Cup. With two wickets down early, South Africa have been struggling with the scoring rate in their must-win fixture.
South Africa are now currently batting 84 for the loss of two wickets at the end of 23 overs.
After a soggy outfield delayed the start at Edgbaston on Wednesday and reduced the match to 49 overs per side, Black Caps captain Kane Williamson won the toss and sent South Africa into bat, hoping to take advantage of bowler-friendly conditions.
He was rewarded in just the second over when Boult demolished Quinton de Kock's stumps, sending him back for just five.
Hashim Amla and skipper Faf du Plessis played some fluent shots as the Proteas recovered to reach 59-1 in the 14th over.
But Ferguson then produced a yorker to bowl Du Plessis for 23 immediately after a bouncer.
South Africa, who brought in fast bowler Lungi Ngidi for Beuran Hendricks, must win this match if they are to stand a realistic chance of reaching the semi-finals after finally recording their first victory of the tournament, against Afghanistan.
Despite that nine-wicket win, Du Plessis's side are still languishing in eighth spot in the 10-team table after five games, with the top four qualifying for next month's semis.
After Wednesday's game, they will face Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Australia.
New Zealand are flying high and a fourth win would lift the 2015 finalists to the top of the table ahead of matches against West Indies, Pakistan, Australia and hosts England.
Wet weather has caused major disruption at the World Cup, with four no results in which teams shared a point each. (AFP, Birmingham)
New Zealand opt to bowl first
New Zealand captain Kane Williamson won the toss and chose to bowl in a World Cup match against South Africa in Birmingham on Wednesday.
The match, delayed by a wet outfield for 90 minutes, was reduced to 49 overs per side and was due to start at 12:00 pm local time (1100 GMT).
"We are going to have a bowl, potentially a bit of weather and we will try and make in-roads with the ball," said Williamson, whose side were unchanged.
"We have come off an extended break so it's nice to be able to play the same side."
South Africa, who brought in paceman Lungi Ngidi for Beuran Hendricks, must win the game if they are to stand a realistic chance of reaching the semi-finals after finally recording their first victory of the tournament, against Afghanistan.
Despite that nine-wicket victory, Faf du Plessis's side are still languishing in eighth spot in the 10-team table after five games, with the top four qualifying for next month's semis.
After Wednesday's game, they will face Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Australia.
"The water, and the rain, meant we would have bowled first but it looks a good surface," said Du Plessis. "New Zealand are a good team playing good cricket and we have to be at our best to get a result.
"The last game was good. We had real intensity as a team against Afghanistan, which was great to see.
"We've got Lungi Ngidi back today. He's been a top bowler for us in the last few years."
New Zealand are flying high and a fourth win would lift the 2015 finalists to the top of the table ahead of matches against West Indies, Pakistan, Australia and hosts England.
Wet weather has caused major disruption at the World Cup, with four no results in which teams shared a point each. (AFP, Birmingham)
Playing XIs:
South Africa: 1 Hashim Amla, 2 Quinton de Kock (wk), 3 Aiden Markram, 4 Faf du Plessis (capt), 5 Rassie van der Dussen, 6 David Miller, 7 Andile Phehlukwayo, 8 Chris Morris, 9 Kagiso Rabada, 10 Lungi Ngidi, 11 Imran Tahir.
New Zealand: 1 Martin Guptill, 2 Colin Munro, 3 Kane Williamson (capt), 4 Ross Taylor, 5 Tom Latham (wk), 6 James Neesham, 7 Colin de Grandhomme, 8 Mitchell Santner, 9 Matt Henry, 10 Lockie Ferguson, 11 Trent Boult.
The toss between New Zealand and South Africa has been delayed due to wet out-field, however it is not not raining at Birmingham.
New Zealand have the best net run rate among the current top four (England, Australia, New Zealand, India), and with their last two league games against Australia and England, they wouldn't want to leave it too late A loss wouldn't yet mean certain exit for South Africa, but would put them perilously close to the edge. So, there's plenty on the line at Edgbaston.
More to follow...
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