South Africa becomes first team to reach Super Eights, captain Markram wins 'big match' of World Cup

South Africa becomes first team to reach Super Eights, captain Markram wins 'big match' of World Cup

South Africa is very close to the Super Eight. They have one foot in the last eight with three consecutive wins. On the other hand, New Zealand tasted their first defeat in the tournament.

The Proteas defeated New Zealand by 7 wickets on Saturday in a high-voltage match of the World Cup. The hero of the victory was Marco Janssen, this pacer took 4 wickets for 40 runs.

Batting first in Ahmedabad, New Zealand scored 175 runs for 7 wickets after losing the toss. In reply, the Proteas reached the target in 17.1 overs. Aiden Markram played an innings of 86* runs off 44 balls.

Chasing runs, South Africa touched fifty in just three overs. This is the second fastest fifty by any team in the history of the World Cup. Where 41 runs came from Markram's bat.

South Africa lost their first wicket for 62 runs in 4.4 overs. Lockie Ferguson bowled De Kock, who had made 20 off 14 balls. However, Markram's storm did not stop. He scored fifty in 19 balls with 6 fours and 4 sixes.

Meanwhile, the Proteas scored 100 runs in 7.2 overs. Rickelton, who had made 21 off 11 balls, was the victim of James Neesham, who broke the 40-run partnership in 18 balls. Then Dewald Brevis was out for 21 runs.

However, Markram did the rest of the work after playing with David Miller for the win. Miller scored 24 runs off 17 balls. He hit Ferguson for a six off the last ball to secure the victory.

Earlier, the Kiwis maintained the run rate despite losing wickets at regular intervals. Jansen returned the first three batters.

Tim Cyfort (13), Finn Allen (31) and Rachin Ravindra were out for 13 each.

At the end of the power play, the Kiwis' score stood at 58/3. New Zealand also lost the wicket of Gley Phillips (1) in the seventh over. After that, they turned around with the bat of Mark Chapman and Derry Mitchell.

Mitchell and Chapman added 74 runs in 44 balls for the fifth wicket. Jansen broke the partnership, Chapman was dismissed for 48 in 26 balls. After that, New Zealand's run rate slowed down.

They scored only 38 runs in the last 6 overs. Daryl Mitchell scored 32 in 24 balls. In addition, James Neesham, who was out for eight, scored 23 in 15 balls. In that, the Kiwis scored 175 runs for the loss of 7 wickets.