Image Source- AP
Quinton de Kock was determined to win South Africa’s
match against New Zealand in Thiruvananthapuram, but rain stopped him.
Having batted first, New Zealand had amassed 321 for 6
thanks to half-centuries from Tom Latham and Devon Conway. South Africa
responded by scoring 211 for 4, with David Miller and de Kock both looking
sharp. However, the rain ended the match early, with South Africa falling seven
runs short, per DLS.
In addition to the victory, New Zealand will be
pleased with Kane Williamson, who made progress towards regaining his composure
by taking the pitch after scoring a 51-ball 37. He won’t take the pitch, though,
until the tournament begins against England.
In the opening over, Reeza Hendricks was given out by
Trent Boult after blowing his pads. Boult’s new partner, Rassie van der Dussen,
and Matt Henry joined him to worry de Kock, but the batters survived the period
and engaged the ensuing bowlers.
Van der Dussen scored seven of the eight boundaries
between the seventh and fourteenth overs, en route to fifty runs. Despite a
sluggish start, his tenacity allowed de Kock to establish himself. Van der
Dussen, however, had a swipe across the line off Mitchell Santner’s bowling and
was caught at cover, breaking the 72-run stand.
In consecutive overs from Santner and Ish Sodhi, De
Kock hit five fours and a six to get things rolling. Then Aidan Markram hit two
fours from Glenn Phillips, but Sodhi forced Markram to miss an inside-out
attempt at deep cover, ending the 37-run stand.
South Africa was kept afloat by Miller and de Kock. De
Kock was exhausted from the heat and took some body blows; a Mitchell bouncer
struck him in the head, but he continued. He and Miller both displayed a sense
of ease when playing against spinners by often clearing the boundaries. Before
the weather delay, the game appeared to be headed for a close conclusion.