New Zealand had to toil hard to register a 4-wicket win over South Africa at Edgbaston on Wednesday to continue their unbeaten run in the 2019 ICC World Cup.
South Africa limped to a score of 241/6 after useful contributions from Rassie van Durren (67), Hashim Amla (55) and Aiden Markram (38). The Proteas also made wrecked Kiwis’ top order to pull themselves in a winning position, only for Kane Williamson to spoil their plans.
The New Zealand captain led from the front, scoring a classy hundred (106) along with support from Colin de Grandhomme (60) to guide his team to their fourth win of the competition and back to the top of the points table.
Williamson’s knock of grit and technique proved to be the difference between the two sides and Twitter lauded the right-hand batsmen for a fine knock that has New Zealand within touching distance of the semi-finals.
Here are the reactions from New Zealand’s victory over South Africa:
✅ #NZvSA
— Cricket World Cup (@cricketworldcup) June 19, 2019
✅ CWC thriller
✅ Last-over six
Stop us if you've heard this one before... pic.twitter.com/0aZAtC9PY3
What a marvellous innings from Kane Williamson. Fantastic game of cricket and his calmness stood out in taking New Zealand home. Terrific stuff #NZvSA pic.twitter.com/ZxFgagPZl4
— VVS Laxman (@VVSLaxman281) June 19, 2019
Kane was main.
— Virender Sehwag (@virendersehwag) June 19, 2019
Top match and a great win for NZ. Most competitive match of the 25 games so far in the World Cup. #NZvSA pic.twitter.com/4pMR1Oxyra
Kane Williamson is a champion.
— Mohammad Kaif (@MohammadKaif) June 19, 2019
Along with Dhoni the coolest head in world cricket. What a fantastic chase and a great victory for New Zealand #NZvSA pic.twitter.com/kARTNK9gKe
Kane Can. What a time to bring up his first World Cup Ton. Top knock by a top player. New Zealand to stay in the top four....in all likelihood, right till the end. #NZvSA #CWC19
— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) June 19, 2019
#KaneWilliamson last 12 ODI inngs in England
— Deepu Narayanan (@deeputalks) June 19, 2019
67
45
93
118
90
50
100
87
57
40
79*
50* --- today#NZvSA #CWC19 #BackTheBlackCaps
Fewest inngs to 1000 ODI runs in England
— Deepu Narayanan (@deeputalks) June 19, 2019
17 #KaneWilliamson
18 Rohit Sharma
19 S Dhawan
21 V Richards
22 R Dravid/ M Trescothick
23 J Bairstow
The first three reached the milestone in #CWC19 #NZvSA #BACKTHEBLACKCAPS
Gem of a player, Kane Williamson. Composure and class
— Mike atherton (@Athersmike) June 19, 2019
Nooo!!! That hurts.. well fought brothers!! #NZvSA
— Morne Morkel (@mornemorkel65) June 19, 2019
Teams losing most World Cup matches in the final over (when defending):
— Bharath Seervi (@SeerviBharath) June 19, 2019
5 - SOUTH AFRICA
3 - Eng, WI
2 - Ind
1 - Pak, UAE, Zim, Sco, SL#SAvNZ #NZvSA #CWC19