ODI World Cup 2023: Quinton De Kock, Rassie Van der Dussen Eeuwen and bowlers ensure South Africa wins en masse

South Africa defeated New Zealand by 190 runs in the 2023 ODI World Cup in Pune on Wednesday.

Pune: Quinton de Kock and Rassie Van der Dussen brought cricket back to prominence in South Africa amid the euphoria of the country’s epic victory in rugby, with their scintillating hundreds seeing New Zealand defeated by 190 runs on Wednesday during the World Cup here.

De Kock (114 off 116 balls) reached his fourth century of the tournament, drawing level with Kumar Sangakkara who achieved the feat in the 2015 edition, while Van der Dussen rocketed to a 118-ball 133 as South Africa posted an imposing 357 scored. for four after being asked to bat first.

New Zealand were bowled out for 167 in 35.3 overs.

So far, only three batsmen have scored four or more centuries in a single edition of the World Cup.

The Proteas displaced India at the top of the points table after the win. Both are on twelve points, although India has played one match less.

David Miller shot 53 in 30 balls to set up the final, four days after the entire country basked in the rugby team’s record fourth World Cup win in Paris, as the Springboks defeated the New Zealand All Blacks, their biggest rivals in the sport.

New Zealand’s response was abysmal as they lost their in-form batsmen Devon Conway and Rachin Ravindra with just 45 runs on the board.

Marco Jansen (3/31) struck the first strike with the new ball, giving the dangerous Conway (2) the lead over Aiden Markram at second slip.

It was Jansen again who gave South Africa the second breakthrough as he dismissed the in-form Ravindra (9), who went for a pull shot but eventually got on top, putting the Proteas on top.

Gerald Coetzee struck with his third delivery of the spell as Will Young poked a short delivery outside the bounds to give De Kock a regular catch and leave the Kiwis on 56 for three in the 11th over.

It was 67 for four when Kagiso Rabada sent skipper Tom Latham back with a rather soft dismissal after the batsman went for his shot too early.

From then on it was a matter of time before the New Zealand innings folded with plenty of overs remaining.

Meanwhile, left-arm spinner Keshav Maharaj (4/46) bowled James Neesham with a spinner that the late Shane Warne would have been proud of.

Glenn Phillips delayed the inevitable with his 60 off 50 balls.

Earlier, keeping the dew in mind, New Zealand stand-in skipper Latham opted to bowl first at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium, where the stands were half-full and a number of people gathered outside as the in-form De Kock and skipper Temba Bavuma walked out to bat.

Dauw, however, was not a factor as South Africa proved too good for their opponents, suffering their third defeat of the tournament in seven matches. For the Proteas, it was their sixth win in seven matches, with the margin of victory doing a huge boost to their net run percentage.

After the dismissal of Bavuma (24), the South Africans had the perfect duo in De Kock and Van der Dussen to set the tone, and they did so with a 200-run partnership in just over 30 overs.

With a bit of luck, with one of his shots falling into a no man’s land, De Kock stepped out against Mitchell Santner and hoisted the veteran left-arm spinner for a six over the long-on boundary.

Van der Dussen was also in action and looked at ease as he collected his runs.

Dealing with two set hitters wasn’t the only challenge for the Kiwis as they also had players pick up injuries, the latest thing for a team already struggling with injuries to key players in the build-up to this match.

After Matt Henry hurt his right hamstring and required treatment, Jimmy Nesham also had some injury problems.

Meanwhile, fortune also smiled on Van der Dussen as he got more than one reprieve on the way to his century.

First, De Kock reached a hundred in style and defeated Neesham maximally on the onside. Van der Dussen soon reached his goal with a four.

Van der Dussen hit 104 off 105 balls, switching gears and launching Neesham for two successive sixes, the first due to Trent Boult tipping the ball over the ropes as he tried to catch it.

Van der Dussen then brought Tim Southee for a maximum over long-on.

By the time De Kock and Van der Dussen were sacked, they had done enough to take South Africa to 350.

Then Miller produced a few big hits to keep them afloat towards the end.