NZ vs SA

So this will be the end of our live coverage. We thank you all for being a part of this wonderful encounter. We have a massive triple header coming up this Sunday as India gears up to face off against Pakistan in a mouth-watering thriller in Colombo. For now, this is Datrim Ray signing off on behalf of Bidipto Datta. Good night and sweet dreams!

Aiden Markram (South Africa Captain): "Yeah, for sure. The important thing is to acknowledge that we got on the right side of the toss. Restricting them to below 180 was a really good effort. I think that's the key. Hold your nerve and back your skills in tough situations. The pair of Champan and Mitchell was quite lethal, but our bowlers have done exceedingly well to fight back. (His thoughts on Jansen's career-best 4/40) He is a tall, left-arm bowler. Bowls a variety of deliveries. It's a real strength for us. But to take 4 wickets tonight and to keep breaking partnerships in the middle was incredible. (About his stellar outing with the bat) Yeah, it's nice. I am trying to help the team to get off to a good start as consistently as possible."

Mitchell Santner (New Zealand captain): "First of all, credit to South Africa for this win! But, wickets with the ball in the power play always helps, especially on a pitch like this. We couldn't do that. We should have got more runs, but, we pulled things back to score over 170. But, we needed wickets up front. We have to adapt to the conditions quickly, they are different all over India. We prepared well, played India here, which is always a tremendous challenge! We now have to get on with the next match and get back to winning ways. There is no easy game in this tournament, so, we won't take Canada lightly." 

Marco Jansen (Player of the Match, 4/40 in 4 overs): "It's a good wicket, so, we had to take wickets up front and execute the plans. The slower balls into the wicket worked well and then the yorkers. Days like today, you just take it as it comes, but on other days, keep hanging in there. Today, the bowlers did really well. Keshav Maharaj did his bit and us pacers worked well in tandem. We have played around the country in the IPL, that helps, and also we take into factor, the opposition we are playing against." 

10:20 PM local time and IST: South Africa have won by 7 wickets.

Aiden Markram - 86 (44) I Marco Jansen - 4/40
Mark Chapman - 48 (26) I Rachin Ravindra - 1/9

SOUTH AFRICA THRASH NEW ZEALAND BY 7 WICKETS! New Zealand have thoroughly been outplayed in all departments tonight! A flurry of boundaries from Aiden Markram got South Africa off to a flyer. QDK followed suit and scored aggressively against pace to rattle the Kiwi quicks early doors inside the powerplay. The onslaught was far too intense, as South Africa racked up 51 in a matter of 3 overs. The Kiwi quicks lost their composure under pressure and erred on their line, which allowed South Africa to cash in. South Africa were flying with the game at this stage before Ferguson drew first blood inside the powerplay.

But the game had already drifted far beyond their reach. Rickelton and Markram upped the ante and further intensified South Africa’s run-scoring efforts, which put the Kiwi bowlers under immense pressure. Markram was in the mood to wind up the run chase in quick time. The South African opener raced to his fifty in a matter of 19 balls. He picked his spots effortlessly and never hesitated to use the long handle if the situation called for it. Rickelton played a fine hand too, adding a quickfire 21 (11) to accelerate South Africa’s scoring rate further.

However, South Africa’s intensity did take a backseat once Rickelton and Brevis were removed. But with 7 wickets in the bank and more than 3 overs to spare, South Africa were able to effortlessly gun down their target. New Zealand bowlers had a horrid outing tonight and were mercilessly taken to the cleaners. Duffy and Henry were punished for 16 & 10 RPO, while Ferguson and Neesham were able to exhibit a certain degree of control, sharing 1 wicket apiece.

17.1 Lockie Ferguson to David Miller, over the wicket, AND SMOKED AWAY FOR SIX TO END THE MATCH! Into the pitch on middle-stump with the angle across. Miller gave himself just a bit of room and stayed on the backfoot to clobber it deep into the stands over deep mid-wicket! South Africa make a mockery of this total set by New Zealand! 

16.6 Matt Henry to David Miller, short and slow on off-stump. Miller pulls off the back foot to the deep mid-wicket area and collects the single. 

16.5 Matt Henry to Aiden Markram, length ball on middle-stump. Flicked away off the legs to the deep square-leg region, for a single to rotate strike. 

16.3 Matt Henry to Aiden Markram, ANOTHER OVERTHROW! Full on off-and-middle. Driven to the right of the mid-off fielder for a quick single. Santner threw the stumps down at the bowler's end and then, the batters got the chance to run the single off the ricochet! 

16.1 Matt Henry to Aiden Markram, DEAR OH DEAR! DEAR OH DEAR! IT'S AN OVERTHROW AND IT'S FIVE RUNS! Good length and on off-and-middle. Knocked to the mid-on area off the back foot. Santner picked it up, tried to throw at the stumps at the striker's end, missed but Seifert, who got blocked a bit by Miller, failed to stop it! 

Yogendra Kumar: "David Miller realese pressure....💪"
SA are under no pressure. They are just going at a steady pace and ensuring no late hiccups.