Twitter Reactions: Captain Kane Williamson drills another nail in the coffin of South Africa’s semis hopes

The Edgbaston in Birmingham was a witness to a closely-fought encounter between New Zealand and South Africa. In the end, the Black Caps got home by four wickets and reclaimed the top spot on the points table courtesy of skipper Kane Williamson’s 12th century in the ODI format. The Proteas simply couldn’t find the light at the end of the tunnel with their fourth defeat in World Cup 2019.

Rassie and Amla shines for the Proteas

After winning the toss and electing to field first, New Zealand did an excellent job and restricted the Proteas to 241 in their 50 overs. Trent Boult castled Quinton de Kock to strike first blood. Hashim Amla and Faf du Plessis tried to put their heads down and added 50 for the second wicket. Lockie Ferguson bowled a superb Yorker to send back Du Plessis for 23. Hashim Amla returned to form with an 83-ball 55.

He also built a stand of 52 with Aiden Markram after which Mitchell Santner got his number. Markram churned out a well-fought 38 but fell prey to Colin de Grandhomme. Meanwhile, Rassie van der Dussen looked the best of the lot, having scored 67 off 64 with two boundaries and three sixes. David Miller also contributed with a 37-ball 36. For the Kiwis, Ferguson was the most successful with three wickets.

Kane Williamson holds his nerves

The run-chase didn’t start on a great note for the Kiwis as Kagiso Rabada removed Colin Munro in the second over. Thereafter, Martin Guptill and Kane Williamson put on 60 runs together. Andile Phehlukwayo broke the stand as Guptill got out hit-wicket after scoring 35 with five fours. Speedster Chris Morris inflicted a couple of body blows as Ross Taylor and Tom Latham could get one run each.

James Neesham joined his captain in the middle and built a stand of 57 off 85 balls. Morris picked his third wicket in the form of Neesham, who scored 23, to separate the duo. Colin de Grandhomme brought up his half-century in 39 balls. He perished to Lungi Ngidi for a well-made 60. However, Williamson notched his ton, depositing Phehlukwayo over mid-wicket and sealed the fate of the game.

Here is how Twitter reacted to the close game

South African team in #ICCWorldCup2019 explained.#NZvSA pic.twitter.com/mxuJ9XyIsO

— Krishna (@Atheist_Krishna) June 19, 2019

It’s Williamson’s first World Cup hundred. And what a hundred. New Zealand are almost through the semis. And South Africa almost out.

— Sambit Bal (@sambitbal) June 19, 2019

End of the road for South Africa. Usual script in world cups for them. Brilliant from Williamson and NZ shows why they can never be ignored. England NZ India and Aus though Bangladesh may not agree.

— Boria Majumdar (@BoriaMajumdar) June 19, 2019

Kane Williamson Top dog! Superb century to anchor his team to win in nerve wracking contest

— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) June 19, 2019

Kane Can. What a time to bring up his first World Cup Ton. Top knock by a top player. New Zealand to stay in the top four….in all likelihood, right till the end. #NZvSA #CWC19

— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) June 19, 2019

Come again, what’s this guy’s name, Kane what?#NZvSA

— Gaurav Sethi (@BoredCricket) June 19, 2019

20 years later
Same venue, Last over
SA get eliminated from the tournament#WC2019 #WC1999

— Gaurav Sundararaman (@gaurav_sundar) June 19, 2019

Never in doubt…. Ship steadied. #NZLvSAF #ICCWorldCup @BLACKCAPS

— Grant Robertson (@grantrobertson1) June 19, 2019

This is New Zealand’s 10th consecutive win while chasing in ICC ODI World Cups.#NZvsSA

— Umang Pabari (@UPStatsman) June 19, 2019

Kane Williamson is mayonnaise. But sriracha mayonnaise. #CWC19

— Vithushan Ehantharajah (@Vitu_E) June 19, 2019

Kane Williamson you beauty!!! #NZvsSA #CWC2019 #BACKTHEBLACKCAPS

— Grant Elliott (@grantelliottnz) June 19, 2019

Morgan grabbed the headlines for his power Hitting exploits yesterday and rightly so but this Williamson innings today is something else … Under immense pressure he has played an old school gem … What a player … What a Ton … #CWC19 #YorkshirePlayer

— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) June 19, 2019

#KaneWilliamson makes such a big difference to the #blackcaps . Paces his innings so well.. Great control and great skill. Reads the games beautifully #NZvSAF #wc19

— Hemang Badani (@hemangkbadani) June 19, 2019

Well played NZ!
Kane Williamson take a bow!#cwc19

— Jason Gillespie ???????? (@dizzy259) June 19, 2019

Auckland 2015: NZ beat South Africa by 4 wickets in the last over.

Birmingham 2019: NZ beat South Africa by 4 wickets in the last over.

This is also NZ’s 5th consecutive win against South Africa in World Cup matches. #CWC19

— Mazher Arshad (@MazherArshad) June 19, 2019

Hard to imagine there’ll be a better innings in the tournament than that from Kane Williamson.

— Henry Moeran (@henrymoeranBBC) June 19, 2019

Kane Williamson – you beauty! Captain Cool
What a knock under pressure
Class act – Kept losing wickets at regular intervals but Williamson kept his cool
South Africa have not beaten New Zealand in a World Cup game since 1999!#SAvNZ #NZvSA #CWC19

— Sarang Bhalerao (@bhaleraosarang) June 19, 2019