ICC World Cup 2019: Match 25, New Zealand vs South Africa – Best Memes from the Match

Williamson was determined to take his team over the line and he did it successfully in the end.

By CricTracker Staff verified

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Kane Williamson century
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Kane Williamson century. (Photo Source: Twitter)

Wow! Kane Williamson is sheer class! New Zealand and South Africa played out a last over thriller at the Edgbaston and like it happened four years back, the Kiwis kept their nerves and got over the line. It was Grant Elliott then, this time it was the Kiwi skipper Williamson who also remained unbeaten on 106 off just 138 deliveries. South Africa were left heartbroken yet again and like they did in the 2015 WC semi-final, bottled up chances to boss the game and had to pay the price.

The score was tricky to chase for New Zealand to start with. While the new ball swung early on, Kagiso Rabada rushed Colin Munro with sheer pace. Kane Williamson and Martin Guptill then joined hands to make the opposition work hard for the next wicket. However, the luck was on the Proteas’ side it seems as Guptill slipped after playing the bouncer only to dislodge the bails.

This is where South Africa stunningly made a comeback into the game. Ross Taylor and Tom Latham both could muster only one run as New Zealand collapsed from being 72/1 to 80/4. James Neesham then brought some calmness to the proceedings as runs were literally hard to come by. Williamson also kept his cool and made sure that the Kiwis didn’t lose any more wicket at that stage.

These two batsmen took 87 deliveries to add 57 runs and even then, the required run-rate was well within control for New Zealand. However, there was another twist in the tale with Morris striking for the third time in the innings to send back the dangerous Latham. But Colin de Grandhomme came out and played his shots freely.

The all-rounder was in his elements on the day and on a pitch where everyone struggled, he scored at a strike-rate of close to 150. At the other end, Williamson was playing a calm hand. The things turned dramatically in the last five overs with De Grandhomme getting out and South Africa bowled a couple of great overs. But Kane Williamson was at his calmest best for his team and nailed a six in the last over to settle the contest.

It was an innings of sheer class and the man showed once again to the world why he is rated so highly. South Africa, on the other hand, were left heartbroken once again and were left to blame themselves for bottling up several chances on the day.

South Africa crawl to 241

Earlier in the day, New Zealand skipper Kane Williamson won the toss and opted to field first in the 49-over contest thanks to the west outfield which delayed the start. South Africa got off to the worst possible start as Trent Boult castled Quinton de Kock in the second over of the match itself. Faf du Plessis promoted himself ahead of Aiden Markram in a pressure game even as Hashim Amla proved his mettle with a gutsy knock on a tough pitch.

The duo showed its class by adding exactly 50 runs for the second wicket and gave some semblance to the innings. Just when the things looked going smoothly for the Proteas Lockie Ferguson probably delivered a bowl of the tournament so far. He bowled a 148kph yorker to the opposition skipper and Du Plessis couldn’t bring his bat down in time only to see his stumps get destroyed.

Once again, the free-flowing Amla had to curb his instincts and along with Aiden Markram, he had to rebuild the innings. The pitch was tough to bat and the two went at a snail’s pace. Even they added 52 runs together as Amla went past the 50-run mark after a long time in the ODIs. However, he too, like his teammates, was castled thanks to a brilliant delivery from Mitchell Santner.

Markram once again threw away the start after promising so much during his 38-run knock. Rassie van der Dussen then played a sensible knock and forged another excellent stand with David Miller. Both of them stitched 62 runs together and just when the latter was opening up in the death overs, Ferguson got him. Van der Dussen though didn’t deter and played a fighting knock.

Though South Africa struggled to up the ante, Van der Dussen ended the innings with a six and a four off the last two deliveries to propel his team to 241 runs after 49 overs. He remained unbeaten on 67 off 64 balls with 2 fours and three sixes and was very confident of defending the score at the halfway mark. But a little bit better fielding and decision-making would’ve saved the day for them and a certain Kane Williamson was at his best who was determined to get his team over the line.

Here are some of the best memes:

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