NZ VS RSA - 32nd Match, ICC Cricket World Cup 2023

Coming into the game, everyone expected this particular match to be a close encounter, but it wasn't to be. Proteas continue to dominate and as a result of this massive victory, they have moved to the top spot in the points table. Their net run rate is superior than anyone else. Barring that upset against Netherlands, they have looked like an unstoppable force. Most of their batters are in form and playing their best cricket, and the pace quartet is one of the most lethal one in this tournament. NZ's struggle with injuries continues to grow as we head towards the business end of the tournament. What will their playing XI look like in the upcoming match against Pakistan? We shall leave that for the weekend. Before that, do join us for the live coverage of the match between India and Sri Lanka to be played at the Wankhede. This is Nikhil signing off on behalf of Ramki, Akshay, Abhinand and Praveen. Good night folks!

Temba Bavuma | SA captain: Clinical display I would say. We had a good partnership between de Kock and Rassie. Fairly happy, clinical in terms of the execution by the bowlers. Quinny and I tried to assess the conditions. We pouched on the bad balls, was able to put a couple of them away. Quinny wasn't in his flow at the start, but stuck to the plan - go unscathed till the 30th over and then maximise with our big hitters. We knew they were going to come hard at us, and we would get the opportunities. We did what we have been doing. Need to check with our (team) manager, but looks like this win does guarantee us a semi-final spot, so we'll celebrate a bit tomorrow and back to work day after.

Tom Latham | NZ captain: Not our best performance. We were under pressure after that partnership (between de Kock and Rassie.) It was a big score. From the batting point of view, we had to have those partnerships, but we had our back against the wall. Those two played fantastically well. Should have restricted them to 330-odd, that would have been better. It was a small ground and a good surface, but we couldn't do much in those first 10 overs. I think they put themselves in a great position, we were not able to build partnerships, that was disappointing. We have faced adversities with injuries. We will reflect on to this one quickly and move to the next one to be played at Banglaore (vs Pakistan). We don't become a bad team overnight.

Stats by Shashikant Singh

Most wickets for South Africa in a WC edition:
17 - Lance Klusener (1999)
17 - Morne Morkel (2015)
16 - Marco Jansen (2023)*
16 - Allan Donald (1999)

South Africa when batting first this year:
Mat - 11
Won - 10
Lost - 1 (vs AUS)

New Zealand's heaviest ODI defeats (by runs):
215 vs AUS, St George's, 2007 (WC)
210 vs ENG, Birmingham, 2015
203 vs WI, Hamilton, 2014
190 vs IND, Vizag, 2016
190 vs SA, Pune, today* (WC)

- This is also the biggest win for South Africa against New Zealand in ODIs surpassing the 159 runs victory at Wellington in 2017.

STAT: - This is the first time South Africa has beaten New Zealand in an ODI World Cup match in six attempts since the 1999 edition.

Rassie van Der Dussen | PoTM: I thought they bowled pretty well up front. Our run-rate was around 4 runs per over. It was a hard working fifty for Quinny (de Kock) and then he guided me. We batted together quite nicely. The pitch got better when the ball got softer, luckily it worked well for us. It's one of those pitches when you hit a good length there's something in it for the bowlers, so we communicated that to our bowlers. Test match lengths work. They kept a lid on us but we knew if we take it deep we can score big later. Quinny was brilliant in reminding me to keep my shape. Be relentless if it's in your area but respect the good ball. Miller and the others were brilliant at the end. 300-320 is what we were talking in the middle. Very pleased we got over the line by a good margin. Everyone contributed. Out and out team performance.

21:10 Local Time, 15:40 GMT, 21:10 IST: Another emphatic win for South Africa! They have been posting massive totals right throughout this tournament, and New Zealand played it into their hands by electing to bowl first. Bavuma and Co. accepted that gift with both hands and the top-order batters repeated their heroics once again. Quinton de Kock notched up his fourth century of the tournament, while Rassie van der Dussen scored his second of the competition. Miller gave the finishing touches with his brisk fifty as the Proteas posted a mammoth total of 357/4. In reply, Jansen got an early wicket in the form of Conway, and the Kiwis never looked comfortable against the lanky South African pacer against the new ball. The Proteas pace quartet dominated the opposition batters by building enormous pressure, bowling several dots, picking crucial wickets and Maharaj made sure to make the most of that pressure, as he got a few important wickets before Phillips attacked him. Just like they bossed the game against most of the oppositions earlier in the tournament, the Proteas brushed aside even a strong team like New Zealand tonight, despite Phillips' late entertainment. Stay around for the presentations..

Gerald Coetzee to Glenn Phillips, out Caught by Rabada!! Glenn Phillips' fight comes to an end! Short of a length around middle and leg, gets hurried due to the pace and bounce on this one. Swings with lack of footwork and miscues it straight to mid-on. Rabada completes a pretty easy catch and South Africa win by 190 runs. As clinical as it can get! Glenn Phillips c Rabada b Gerald Coetzee 60(50) [4s-4 6s-4]

Gerald Coetzee to Glenn Phillips, THATS OUT!! Caught!!

Gerald Coetzee to Glenn Phillips, SIX, Glenn Phillips playing an entertaining knock! On a length around off, Glenn Phillips stands tall and launches this right over the bowler's head for six run. Henry from the other end appreciates it

Gerald Coetzee to Glenn Phillips, no run, back of a length around middle and leg, Glenn Phillips heaves this to deep mid-wicket

Maharaj to Matt Henry, no run, opens his bat face, steering this towards backward point. A cheer from the Pune crowd as Phillips gets to face the next over

Maharaj to Matt Henry, no run, full and straight outside off, Matt Henry shoulders arms

Maharaj to Glenn Phillips, 1 run, cuts this widish delivery through point for a single

Maharaj to Glenn Phillips, FOUR, fifty for Glenn Phillips! Tossed up delivery on off, Glenn Phillips smashes it to wide long-off for four runs. Henry walks up to him and congratulates him

Maharaj to Glenn Phillips, SIX, some useful runs for NZ, helping their net run rate. A loopy delivery on middle and Glenn Phillips has smoked this over deep mid-wicket for half-a-dozen

Maharaj to Glenn Phillips, FOUR, tossed up delivery around off, Glenn Phillips smashes this through wide long-off for a cracking boundary