ICC World Cup 2019: Twitter Reacts As New Zealand Restrict South Africa To 241 Runs

New Zealand bowlers produced an outstanding effort to restrict South Africa – coming from the back of a victory to a small total at Edgbaston in Birmingham. The Proteas bowlers will have a task in hand to defend the target and keep themselves floating for a semifinal spot.

Kiwis produce an outstanding bowling effort

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New Zealand skipper Kane Williamson won the toss – delayed by 1.5 hour due to wet outfield and opted to field first at Edgbaston. Senior pacer Trent Boult stood upto his skipper’s decision removing in-form Quinton de Kock in the second over. It was not a great delivery but de Kock was tentative early on which undid him to castle his stumps. The onus was on Hashim Amla and skipper Faf du Plessis who started to bail the innings without taking much of a risk. And in the process, Amla brought his 8000 ODI runs – the second fastest after India skipper Virat Kohli.

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The pair added 50 runs for the second wicket before Lockie Ferguson sets it up beautifully to get rid of du Plessis. He followed a bouncer with a yorker and beats the South Africa skipper in pace. However, Hashim Amla continued strong as New Zealand bowlers failed to make inroads against him. But soon after reaching his 38th ODI fifty, Mitchell Santner bowled a dream delivery to get the better of Amla. The wicket came at a perfect time when he was trying to cut loose and has set his eyes in.

The Kiwis capitalised on the momentum to chip in with another wicket. This time Colin de Grandhomme got set Aiden Markram out for 38 to have South Africa at 136 for four. Since then, Rassie van der Dussen and David Miller added 72 to cross the 200-run mark and give their bowlers something to bowl at. Initially, they struggled to find the boundaries and had to focus on rotating the strike before some mighty blows from Dussen and Millers increased the run-rate.

Although Miller departed after a well-made 36 runs from 37 balls, Rassie van der Dussen chipped in with the odd boundaries to lead South Africa. In the process, he brought his second World Cup century and struck a few more to add to his tally in the death overs. New Zealand will have their task cut out to chase the total of 241 runs on a slow wicket at Edgbaston.

Read More: ICC World Cup 2019: Match 26, Australia vs Bangladesh – Match Preview

Here are the twitter reactions:

Not sure why rassie is looking for singles instead of teeing off..

— Herschelle Gibbs (@hershybru) June 19, 2019

I want @OfficialCSA to win today #CWC2019 #NZLvSAF just so I could get back at @scottbstyris ??

— Russel Arnold (@RusselArnold69) June 19, 2019

Early struggle from the batsmen with some swing from the bowlers #NZvsSA Top quality game is on

— Irfan Pathan (@IrfanPathan) June 19, 2019

Well played Dussen.. Played under difficult conditions with poor bating lineup. ?#NZvSA

— Sai Gautam ? (@SaiGautam1) June 19, 2019

.@BLACKCAPS apart from their match vs @BCBtigers have looked really solid in the tournament so I reckon they'll continue to do well today too, first game at Edgbaston let's see if we get to witness a @OfficialCSA resurgence!#CWC19 #NZvSA

— R P Singh रुद्र प्रताप सिंह (@rpsingh) June 19, 2019

@hershybru what has happened to your cricket team??? You should come out of retirement… your country needs you #??

— Owais shah (@owaisshah203) June 19, 2019

Honestly what has happened to South Africa and their power and aggression. #NZvSA

— Bill Knight (@BillKni95026647) June 19, 2019

Sometimes I wish I didn't care so much about cricket #NZvSA

— Nick Baker (@nick_baker21) June 19, 2019

I'm afraid South Africa are out of this World Cup. Disappointing to see a nation which has done extremely well in cricket to go like this especially in the World Cup. Aiden Markram well, I think it's time to drop him he's been given a lot of chances. #NZvSA #SAvNZ #CWC19

— Anirudh Guru Dutt (@AnirudhDutt) June 19, 2019

Trent Boult tried hard to trend on Twitter but he ends up dropping an easiest of the catches. Although, he had made photographers day by not-so-needed so-called acrobatics. #NZvSA #CWC19 #CWC2019

— Tahir Ibn Manzoor (@TahirIbnManzoor) June 19, 2019

The weight of every team's expectations is on SA today. If New Zealand wins today, it will virtually eliminate everyone who is not currently in the top 4 considering the fixtures ahead. If SA wins, everyone but Sri Lanka and Afghanistan can dream. #NZvSA

— Bharat Dhir (@babaBharatDhir) June 19, 2019

Both Amla and Markram find their spots in danger, and now they are batting together. Not the ideal men to be in a partnership for South Africa right now#NZvSA#CWC19

— Hari Sadanandan (@iamharry_88) June 19, 2019

Under which circumstances can i take wine whilst on antibiotics? Can't be watching cricket on a sober state. #NZvSA

— Keneilwe Monei (@Kini_Monei) June 19, 2019

6 games into the WC and none of the SA batsmen has scored a century. They just keep breaking the records #NZvSA pic.twitter.com/UJjac1bG8m

— Akunyanzelekanga (@SiposethuM) June 19, 2019