Familiar Proteas heartbreak as they lose in WC semis

The Proteas suffered an ugly capitulation in a World Cup semifinal that was reminiscent of meltdowns of the past. SA were out-thought and outplayed by New Zealand, who restricted them to 169/8 in the T20 clash at Eden Gardens in Kolkata on Wednesday and reached the under-par target for the loss of only one wicket in the 13th over. The Proteas produced a skittish batting display, a stark contrast to the chest out, confident group that marched through the tournament unbeaten until Wednesday.

There are generations of SA players who’ve worn those ghostly looks. New Zealand brought basic plans and, most importantly, disciplined execution to the occasion, creating the pressure that suffocated Aiden Markram’s team. From the employment of Cole McConchie to open the bowling, and then the straight lines and full lengths produced by all the bowlers, the Black Caps were the epitome of precision with the ball.

The a 34-year-old off-spinning all-rounder was called up for the tournament as a replacement for Michael Bracewell. In the field, not so much, as they dropped two catches. But such was their control and relentless discipline that neither opportunity, offered to Markram on 3 and Miller also on 3, was costly.

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McConchie’s back-to-back dismissals of De Kock and Rickelton put SA on the back foot at the start, after New Zealand unsurprisingly chose to bowl at a venue where, under lights, chasing is a significant advantage because of the dew. To Markram, the bowlers’ stump-to-stump line meant the Proteas captain couldn’t free his arms and access his favourite scoring region in the covers. It was similar for Dewald Brevis, while the Black Caps also maintained full lengths, preventing the batters from getting underneath the ball to hit boundaries.

With boundaries difficult to come by, the pressure built on the Proteas batters. Markram drove to long-on, where Daryl Mitchell held a catch millimetres off the ground.

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