Going into this match, South Africa had been the favourites not solely to beat New Zealand but additionally to finish their watch for a maiden T20 World Cup title.
The unbeaten Proteas had topped Group D, the so-called group of loss of life, earlier than brushing apart India and West Indies within the Tremendous 8s to guide their spot within the knockout phases with a match to spare.
The tag of favourites was one thing they had been very happy to put on, head coach Shukri Conrad said on Wednesday, however over the course of 32.5 chastening overs, the reminiscences of Sydney in 1992, Kolkata in 1999, Melbourne in 2015 and Barbados in 2024 got here flooding again.
Their high order, which included the third-highest run-scorer within the competitors in Markram, faltered for the second consecutive match, undone by spin as had occurred in opposition to Zimbabwe.
It was Sikandar Raza who accounted for his or her openers within the powerplay on Sunday.
In Kolkata, Cole McConchie struck with back-to-back deliveries within the second over as De Kock and Rickelton gifted routine catches to Lockie Ferguson and Allen, respectively, whereas Ravindra accounted for Markram and Miller: South Africa 77-4.
With the ball, tasked with defending a below-par 169, their bowlers had been torn aside, none extra so than the normally dependable Jansen, who leaked 29 runs from his two powerplay overs.
Of the 12.5 overs New Zealand wanted to finish their fast chase, solely three price fewer than 10 runs.
“To get to 170 was a terrific effort and we felt we had a sniff. However because it goes in T20 cricket, the powerplay obtained off to a flyer and it was laborious to drag again,” mentioned Markram.
“You give credit score to their openers to kill the sport like they did. A nasty evening for us tonight.
“Now we have to get again on the horse and put together for the longer term. It seems like a slap within the face and we must be higher as a staff.”
South Africa have now misplaced three of their 4 males’s T20 World Cup semi-finals and 4 out of 5 knockout matches. Within the 50-over match, all 5 of their semi-final outings have resulted in defeat.
They may have damaged their duck with victory within the World Check Championship last final June, however their status as chokers stays.
