By IANS
Durban : A blistering unbeaten knock of 89 by Justin Kemp propelled South Africa to a comprehensive six-wicket win over New Zealand in a Super Eight match of the Twenty20 World Championships here Wednesday.
Chasing a target of 153 set by the Kiwis, Kemp single-handedly guided South Africa to 158 for the loss of four wickets with five balls to spare. Kemp hit a huge six off the first ball of the 20th over to seal the match in the hosts’ favour.
New Zealand made a steady start with openers Lou Vincent (32) and Brendan McMillan (38) adding 68 runs for the first wicket. But some fiery bowling by Morne Morkel pegged back the Kiwis and the bowler ended with magnificent figures of 4/14 from his four overs.
Craig McMillan then put some life into the New Zealand batting with his quick fire unbeaten 48 off just 25 deliveries that included two boundaries and four sixers and guided his team to a challenging 153/8.
South Africans made a slow start and were reduced to three for 45 in the eight over. But Kemp’s swashbuckling 89 guided the hosts home safely.
Kemp hit six boundaries and as many sixes to mesmerise the New Zealand bowlers and the winning runs came from his huge six over long-on.
SCOREBOARD:
South Africa vs. New Zealand, Twenty20 World Championship, Kingsmead, Durban
New Zealand:
Lou Vincent b van der Wath 32
Brendan McCullum c Boucher b Morne Morkel 38
Ross Taylor c Boucher b Morne Morkel 1
Scott Styris c de Villiers b Albie Morkel 6
Craig McMillan not out 48
Jacob Oram b Morne Morkel 15
Nathan McCullum run out (van der Wath/Boucher) 0
Daniel Vettori c Albie Morkel b van der Wath 1
Shane Bond c Boucher b Morne Morkel 0
Mark Gillespie not out 3
Extras (lb 2, w 5, nb 2): 9
Total (for eight wickets in 20 overs): 153
Fall of wickets: 1-68 (Brendan, 8.2 overs), 2-70 (Taylor, 8.6), 3-76 (Vincent, 9.6), 4-90 (Styris, 12.1), 5-131 (Oram, 16.1), 6-132 (Nathan, 16.5), 7-137 (Vettori, 17.5), 8-139 (Bond, 18.2)
Bowling:
Shaun Pollock 4-0-41-0 (2w)
Andre Nel 4-0-23-0
Morne Morkel 4-1-16-4 (1nb)
Johan van der Wath 4-0-31-2 (3w)
Albie Morkel 3-0-30-1 (1nb)
Vernon Philander 1-0-10-0
South Africa:
Graeme Smith c Brendan McCullum b Bond 2
Herschelle Gibbs c sub b Martin 19
Abraham de Villiers c Brendan McCullum b Gillespie 1
Justin Kemp not out 89
Mark Boucher c Brendan McCullum b Gillespie 23
Shaun Pollock not out 16
Extras (lb 1, w 4, nb 3): 8
Total (for four wickets in 19.1 overs): 158
Fall of wickets: 1-14 (Smith, 2.1 overs), 2-17 (de Villiers, 3.1), 3-45 (Gibbs, 7.1), 4-110 (Boucher, 15.2)
Bowling:
Shane Bond 4-0-31-1 (4w)
Mark Gillespie 3.1-1-11-2 (1nb)
Chris Martin 4-0-40-1 (1nb)
Jacob Oram 4-0-50-0 (1nb)
Daniel Vettori 4-0-25-0
Result: South Africa won by six wickets
Points: South Africa 2
Toss: South Africa (chose to bowl)
Player of the match: Justin Kemp (South Africa)
Umpires: Billy Doctrove (West Indies) and Simon Taufel (Australia)
TV umpire: Steve Davis (Australia)
Match referee: Ranjan Madugalle (Sri Lanka)