Any form of entertainment, be it classical opera or a well-scripted drama has a certain build-up before the finale. The script has to change gear to keep the audience spell bound.
A full house at the Eden Park ground in Auckland witnessed a nail-biting drama by 22 performers, leaving them completely exhausted in the first leg of the build-up.
The Kiwis exhausted with joy and the Proteas with exasperation. AB deVilliers had taken his team within inches of glory and almost got rid of the baggage his country has been carrying since their debut in the International Cricket Council’s Word Cup in 1992 of being called chokers.
Under a cloud
The ghost of the Duckworth-Lewis method, that had hit them badly during their maiden appearance, came back to haunt them. Only, this time the "boo" was much softer, unlike the scream of the banshee they had heard 23 years ago.
The story line may have had a different ending had the Proteas not gone in for a rain break in the 38th over. Faf Du Plessis and deVilliers were essaying their script with flawless precision. The weather-gods gave the homies a breather and most importantly time to rethink their strategy.
A big total was always on the cards considering the smallness of the ground. The pre-match plans and strategies decided by both teams must have been similar. After all, the two sides were evenly matched with the hosts having a slight advantage of playing in front of their home crowd.
Key difference
The difference between the two sides was self-belief. The attitude of the Kiwis when chasing a stiff target was one that reeked of positivity. “How dare you beat us on our home ground,” was essayed in their body language and psyche. That the Proteas would blink first was evident in their surprisingly shoddy fielding and the bowlers who delivered gift-wrapped parcels to the hosts batsmen.
Two fielders crashing while going for a catch is a coach’s nightmare. JP Duminy and Farhaan Behardien became the latest in the series on people who "dropped the World Cup". Herschel Gibbs must have banged his head on the wall when Grant Elliot got the lifeline.
If 1992 gave birth to the word ‘pinch-hitter’ thanks to Mark Greatbach’s initial flurry, Brendon McCullum upgraded that art to that of being a "pacer". Setting the tone, considering the big run rate was important and the Kiwi skipper became the man who sets the pace in a long marathon.
The Proteas skipper may look back in angst and kick himself in disgust that he didn’t slow down the game – knowing that the Kiwis will be all fire and brimstone at the start. He could have taken a leaf out of Martin Crowe’s book and introduced spin earlier than he did or done a first over bowled by a spinner as tactic employed by the Kiwi legend in the summer of '92.
Within striking distance
Is it fair to continue to call the Proteas chokers? Will they keep carrying the extra weight with them when the play crucial tournaments such as the ICCWC? Will fans and commentators of the game spare a kind thought for de Villiers and Co., who almost came within striking distance of the silverware?
Discussions on this topic will continue till the Proteas begin their campaign for the 2019 World Cup to be held in England. Gibbs will cease to be the lonely figure and two more of his fellow countrymen will now share his crown of thorns.
Whatever the outcome of these deliberations, the Proteas and the Kiwis have set a very high bar in the tournament by keeping everyone on the edge of their seats with an action-packed game A very high standard that India and Australia (the other semi-finalists) need to better if the crescendo needs to be maintained for a grand finale.
Scores: South Africa 281/5 (43 overs) lost to New Zealand 299/6 (42.5 overs).
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A full house at the Eden Park ground in Auckland witnessed a nail-biting drama by 22 performers, leaving them completely exhausted in the first leg of the build-up.
The Kiwis exhausted with joy and the Proteas with exasperation. AB deVilliers had taken his team within inches of glory and almost got rid of the baggage his country has been carrying since their debut in the International Cricket Council’s Word Cup in 1992 of being called chokers.
Under a cloud
The ghost of the Duckworth-Lewis method, that had hit them badly during their maiden appearance, came back to haunt them. Only, this time the "boo" was much softer, unlike the scream of the banshee they had heard 23 years ago.
The story line may have had a different ending had the Proteas not gone in for a rain break in the 38th over. Faf Du Plessis and deVilliers were essaying their script with flawless precision. The weather-gods gave the homies a breather and most importantly time to rethink their strategy.
A big total was always on the cards considering the smallness of the ground. The pre-match plans and strategies decided by both teams must have been similar. After all, the two sides were evenly matched with the hosts having a slight advantage of playing in front of their home crowd.
Key difference
The difference between the two sides was self-belief. The attitude of the Kiwis when chasing a stiff target was one that reeked of positivity. “How dare you beat us on our home ground,” was essayed in their body language and psyche. That the Proteas would blink first was evident in their surprisingly shoddy fielding and the bowlers who delivered gift-wrapped parcels to the hosts batsmen.
Two fielders crashing while going for a catch is a coach’s nightmare. JP Duminy and Farhaan Behardien became the latest in the series on people who "dropped the World Cup". Herschel Gibbs must have banged his head on the wall when Grant Elliot got the lifeline.
If 1992 gave birth to the word ‘pinch-hitter’ thanks to Mark Greatbach’s initial flurry, Brendon McCullum upgraded that art to that of being a "pacer". Setting the tone, considering the big run rate was important and the Kiwi skipper became the man who sets the pace in a long marathon.
The Proteas skipper may look back in angst and kick himself in disgust that he didn’t slow down the game – knowing that the Kiwis will be all fire and brimstone at the start. He could have taken a leaf out of Martin Crowe’s book and introduced spin earlier than he did or done a first over bowled by a spinner as tactic employed by the Kiwi legend in the summer of '92.
Within striking distance
Is it fair to continue to call the Proteas chokers? Will they keep carrying the extra weight with them when the play crucial tournaments such as the ICCWC? Will fans and commentators of the game spare a kind thought for de Villiers and Co., who almost came within striking distance of the silverware?
Discussions on this topic will continue till the Proteas begin their campaign for the 2019 World Cup to be held in England. Gibbs will cease to be the lonely figure and two more of his fellow countrymen will now share his crown of thorns.
Whatever the outcome of these deliberations, the Proteas and the Kiwis have set a very high bar in the tournament by keeping everyone on the edge of their seats with an action-packed game A very high standard that India and Australia (the other semi-finalists) need to better if the crescendo needs to be maintained for a grand finale.
Scores: South Africa 281/5 (43 overs) lost to New Zealand 299/6 (42.5 overs).