New Zealand sprung a huge surprise by defeating hot favorites South Africa by 49 runs in the third quarterfinal match at the Shere Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur. New Zealand will now meet the either Sri Lanka or England in the first semi-final in Colombo.
New Zealand won the toss and elected to bat first. Robin Peterson picked up Brendon McCullum (4) while Dale Steyn dismissed the dangerous Martin Guptill (1). Jesse Ryder and Ross Taylor then added 114 runs for the third wicket to bring the innings back on the track.
Ryder scored 83 runs from 121 balls with eight fours. This is also his highest score in the World Cups. Taylor hit a 72-ball 43 runs and hit a six and a four before Imran Tahir had Taylor caught by Jacques Kallis.
Scott Styris (16) and Kane Williamson (38*) hit a few lusty blows in the end to take the score to a respectable 221/8 in their allotted 50 overs. For South Africa, Morne Morkel (3/46) while Tahir (2/32) and Dale Steyn (2/42) picked up two wickets each.
Chasing a nominal 222 runs to win, South Africa lost Hashim Amla (7) in the first over of their innings when he was caught by Daniel Vettori off the bowling of Nathan McCullum. Skipper Graeme Smith (28) and Kallis added 61 runs for the second wicket. Kallis scored 47 runs from 75 balls including three fours.
At 108/2 in 24 overs, everything seemed okay for the South Africans before they pressed the panic button. They lost their last eight wickets for just 64 runs and ended their World Cup dreams. Only AB de Villiers and Faf du Plessis reached the double figures while others fell like a pack of cards.
AB de Villiers made a 40-ball 35 runs while Faf du Plessis made 36 runs from 43 balls including three fours and a six. Jacob Oram picked up 4/39 while Nathan McCullum took 3/24 in his ten overs as South Africa were all out for just 172 runs. Jacob Oram was aptly declared the man of the match for his four-wicket haul.