Quinton de Kock and Rassie van der Dussen both hit sensational centuries in South Africa’s 190-run triumph over New Zealand in the ICC One-Day International World Cup. Their achievements moved the country’s sporting focus from rugby to cricket, with de Kock scoring 114 off 116 balls, his fourth century of the competition.
Only three players in the history of the World Cup have scored four centuries in the same event. Van der Dussen’s 133 off 118 balls boosted South Africa’s tally to 357/4, keeping New Zealand battling to meet their mark.
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The Rundown: New Zealand vs South Africa
South Africa’s Quinton de Kock and Rassie van der Dussen lit up the cricketing community with their incredible centuries, sealing a stunning 190-run victory against New Zealand at MCA Stadium in Pune. Their electrifying efforts not only captivated cricket fans but also temporarily switched the nation’s competitive attention from rugby to cricket.
South Africa is in the Pole Position to Win
De Kock’s outstanding innings of 114 off 116 balls gave him his fourth century of the competition, putting him in privileged company with Kumar Sangakkara, who accomplished the remarkable statistic at the 2015 World Cup.
In particular, only three players in the history of the World Cup have scored four centuries in one tournament, with India captain Rohit Sharma topping the list with five during the 2019 edition.
Van der Dussen’s 133 off 118 balls helped the Proteas to a daunting total of 357/4. This incredible show of batting brilliance leaves New Zealand flailing in their pursuit of the target.
New Zealand Faces Uphill Task to Win
New Zealand’s performance was dull, as they got bowled out with a paltry 167 in 35.3 overs. South Africa’s bowlers swiftly destroyed New Zealand’s batting lineup, spearheaded by Marco Jansen and Keshav Maharaj.
Jansen struck first, dismissing the threatening Devon Conway, who scored just two. Rachin Ravindra’s throw-pull shot was New Zealand’s second setback. Will Young fell prey to an expected catch by de Kock on Gerald Coetzee’s third delivery.
De Kock and Van der Dussen Set the Pace for South Africa
Tom Latham’s break at 67/4 signaled the conclusion of New Zealand’s innings, placing them in a difficult position. Keshav Maharaj’s moments saw the elimination of James Neesham with a delivery that would have made Shane Warne happy, while Glenn Phillips’ 60 off 50 balls postponed the impending doom.
The partnership of 200 runs between De Kock and van der Dussen set the pace for South Africa’s prevailing tally. Their outstanding effort, along with a dash of luck, propelled them to a massive total of 357.
With a quick 53 off 30 balls, David Miller ensured South Africa ended their innings on a strong footing, creating a huge task for New Zealand.
Player of the Game: Rassie van der Dussen
Rassie van der Dussen has long been regarded as an eminent person with the capacity to appreciate and express South Africa’s distinctive racial differences and the difficult road traveled to right those wrongs in sport.
However, on the eve of the match over New Zealand, the Saffer guru walked into the shoes of the cricket team’s long-suffering supporters to answer how the squad dealt with continuous flashbacks of past failures.
The ‘Player of the Match’ Van der Dussen, who made a spectacular comeback, bowled a dazzling 133 in 118 balls, featuring nine fours and five sixes, completing his second century of the competition.
Van der Dussen stated that the South African squad received a lot of flak following their defeat to the Netherlands, coming from supporters and media outlets. He saw that the criticism was coming from an area of hurt since previous performances had left fans broken.
New Zealand v South Africa Score
| South Africa | New Zealand |
| 357/4(50 overs) | 167(35.3 overs) |
| South Africa beat New Zealand by 190 runs | |
South Africa’s emphatic victory propelled the nation to the top spot of the World Cup points standings, tied with India with 12 points despite having played another match.
This victory was historic since it momentarily shifted attention away from rugby to cricket in South Africa. De Kock and van der Dussen captured the show with their cricketing prowess only days after the South African Springboks won their fourth Rugby World Cup title by overcoming New Zealand’s All Blacks.
The Cricket World Cup action continues this weekend, with New Zealand taking on Pakistan in Bengaluru on Saturday and South Africa facing India in Kolkata on Sunday.
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