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Proteas enter Semis beating Kiwis |
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Justin Kemp's power
hitting blasted South Africa into the Semis with
a six-wicket win with five balls to spare over
the challenging Kiwis. South Africa were chasing
a not so huge target of 154 which they did
comfortably through a 65-run stand between Kemp
and Boucher. Kemp won the match and also the Man
of the Match award with his lusty hitting, an
unbeaten 89 in 56 with half a dozen fours and as
many sixes.
South Africa opted to
field first but the decision seemed to have
backfired with Lou Vincent and Brendon McCullum
providing a superb start. The two openers put on
68 in 8.2 overs before Morne Morkel got rid of
the dangerous McCullum who had made 38 in 26
with the help of a couple of sixes. South Africa
pulled things back with three quick wickets. Lou
Vincent was a guilty man of not able to convert
his start of 32 from 29 into a bigger
score. New Zealand once again found itself in
trouble, this time at 90 for 4 in the 13th but
again their depth in the batting rescued them.
Craig McMillan once again was the hero for the
Kiwis chipping in with an unbeaten 48 from 25
with 2 fours and four sixes. With lot of wickets
falling towards the end, New Zealand just
reached 153 for 8. The best bowler without any
doubt was the tall Morne Morkel who finished
with 4 for 17 in his 4 overs.
Graeme Smith fell early
in the South African chase and was followed back
to the dug out by AB de Villiers leaving the
Proteas at 17 for 2 in the 4th over. Herschelle
Gibbs who returned back after a hamstring injury
made 19 with four boundaries but was caught in
the deep trying to pull Chris Martin out of the
park. South Africa were wobbling at 45 for 3 in
the 8th over but were brought back in the game
through a wonderful partnership between Justin
Kemp and Mark Boucher. New Zealand could just
get the wicket of Boucher in the 16th over with
SA requiring 44 from 28. It was hardly any task
for the big hitting Kemp and Pollock who
finished the game in style. Jacob Oram became
the target for the South Africans with his four
overs taken for fifty runs.
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