New Zealand captain Kane Williamson (106*) guided his side to a tense four-wicket win over South Africa in a Cricket World Cup game at Edgbaston on Wednesday (June 19). Needing eight off the final over, Williamson swept the second ball for six to complete his century. He hit the next delivery for a boundary past point as the Kiwis, set a target of 242, sealed the deal with three deliveries to spare. Williamson was supported by Colin de Grandhomme, who scored 60 off 47 after the 2015 finalists had slipped to 137/5. Get highlights of New Zealand Vs South Africa here (SCORECARD | POINTS TABLE | SCHEDULE & RESULTS)
00:31 hrs IST: That's it. Thank you for joining us!
Kane Williamson, Player of the Match: "It's nice to be there at the end. It was a pretty tough surface, a bit soft and that ball was holding on. I thought the first half was a really good effort from us, pitching the ball in the right areas. We knew at the halfway stage that we had done well with the ball. We then had to build partnerships, but we kept losing wickets and coupled with the tight South African bowling made life difficult for us. De Grandhomme for me was the standout with his bowling and the impetus he gave us with the bat in the end. We just tried to get through the tough parts; we knew we would face dots. I just tried communicating with my partners, and despite trying to score quickly, I kept finding the fielders."
00:21 hrs IST: THIRD BALL - FOUR, in the gap between point and short third man. That's it. New Zealand win by four wickets, remain unbeaten in the tournament. Williamson remains unbeaten on 106. Such a good player!
00:19 hrs IST: SECOND BALL - SIX! Another slower delivery, Williamson gets down on one knee and creams it over deep mid-wicket boundary. That's his century.
00:18 hrs IST: FIRST BALL - Slower one and Santner pulls away to deep mid-wicket for a single. Williamson on strike.
00:15 hrs IST: Williamson - Bloody Genius! Slower delivery from Ngidi and he just helps it past the fielder at short third man. New Zealand are 234/6 after 48 overs, need 8 off 6. Williamson on 96. Phehlukwayo to bowl the final over.
00:07 hrs IST: OUT! Slower delivery from Ngidi, De Grandhomme looks to clear the long-off boundary but doesn't get the timing and Du Plessis takes a good catch. South Africa's hopes are still alive. Mitchell Santner comes to the crease.
00:00 hrs IST: Nine runs off Ngidi's penultimate over. New Zealand are 225/5 after 46 overs, need 17 off 18.
23:56 hrs IST: FOUR! Length ball from Morris and De Grandhomme hits it over mid-wicket for a boundary. That's a half-century for him off his 39 deliveries. What an innings under tremendous pressure! New Zealand are 216/5 after 45 overs, need 26 off 24.
23:52 hrs IST: Turning out to be a poor day for Phehlukwayo. 62 off his 8 overs. Ngidi drops a sitter at fine leg but it was a no ball - chest high. Another reprieve from Williamson. South Africa's fielding hasn't been up to the required standard. New Zealand are 211/5 after 44 overs, need 31 off 30.
23:46 hrs IST: Morris keeps it tight, only three off his ninth over. New Zealand are 199/5 after 43 overs, need 43 off 36.
23:42 hrs IST: Six runs off Phehlukwayo's seventh. New Zealand are 196/5 after 42 overs, need 46 off 42.
23:37 hrs IST: A boundary for De Grandhomme and Williamson gets a lifeline. Missed run-out chance at the non-striker's end. Once again it is Miller. South Africa are 190/5 after 41 overs, need 52 off 48.
23:32 hrs IST: Spectacular over from Ngidi, only one run off it. New Zealand are 184/5 after 40 overs, need 58 off 54.
23:28 hrs IST: SIX! Short from Rabada and De Grandhomme hammers it over square leg for a maximum. Expensive over from the South African, 10 off it. New Zealand are 183/5 after 39 overs, need 59 off 60. Lungi Ngidi comes back into the attack.
23:22 hrs IST: MILLER DROPS DE GRANDHOMME! Really tough chance but you need to take those at this stage of the game. New Zealand are 173/5 after 38 overs, need 69 off 66. What a spell from Tahir! 10 overs, 33 runs.
23:18 hrs IST: Thirty-three runs and a wicket off the last 30 balls. New Zealand are 169/5 after 37 overs, need 73 off 72.
23:11 hrs IST: FOUR! Short delivery from Morris, outside off, Williamson gets into position early and pulls it to the mid-wicket boundary. New Zealand are 154/5 after 35 overs, need 88 off 84.
23:06 hrs IST: Exceptional over from Tahir, just three off it. New Zealand are 148/5 after 34 overs, need 94 off 90.
23:02 hrs IST: OUT! Much-needed breakthrough for South Africa. This partnership was threatening to take the game away from them. Morris removes Neesham 23(34). Colin de Grandhomme comes to the crease. New Zealand are 145/5 after 33 overs, need 97 off 96.
22:55 hrs IST: Costly over from Phehlukwayo, 11 off it. New Zealand are 136/4 after 32 overs, need 106 off 102.
22:48 hrs IST: Six runs off the last 12 balls. New Zealand are 125/4 after 31 overs, need 117 off 108.
22:40 hrs IST: Only four off Rabada's sixth. New Zealand are 119/4 after 29 overs, need 123 off 120.
22:35 hrs IST: Single and that's a half-century for Williamson. Flighted delivery from Tahir and the New Zealand captain works it to long-on for a single. New Zealand are 115/4 after 28 overs, need 127 off 126. Kagiso Rabada comes back into the attack.
22:32 hrs IST: Just 12 runs off the last five overs. New Zealand are 109/4, need 133 off 132.
22:25 hrs IST: High quality over from Ngidi. It's a maiden. New Zealand are 103/4 after 25 overs.
22:21 hrs IST: Outstanding over from Tahir, only one run off it. New Zealand are 103/4 after 24 overs. Williamson 45*, Neesham 10*
22:16 hrs IST: Singles the way for New Zealand - as of now. Required rate is well under control. They just need a big partnership. The Kiwis are 102/4 after 23 overs.
22:10 hrs IST: Ten off the last two overs. New Zealand are 94/4 after 21 overs. Williamson 39*, Neesham 7*
22:01 hrs IST: OUT! Back of a length delivery from Morris, Latham looks to defend but gets an outside edge and De Kock takes another simple catch. James Neesham comes to the crease. New Zealand are 84/4 after 19 overs.
21:56 hrs IST: Another tidy over from Tahir, three off it. New Zealand are 80/3 after 18 overs. Morris to continue.
21:52 hrs IST: OUT! Full ball from Morris, down leg, looks to flick but gets a thin tickle and De Kock completes an easy catch. New Zealand are 76/3 after 17 overs. Williamson 32*, Latham 1*
21:45 hrs IST: Superb over from Imran Tahir, only two runs off it. New Zealand are 74/2 after 16 overs. Chris Morris comes back into the attack.
21:40 hrs IST: OUT! Lucky one for South Africa. Shortish delivery from Phehlukwayo, Guptill looks to pull but isn't in control of it. He loses his balance and slides into the stumps. Ross Taylor comes to the crease. New Zealand are 72/2 after 15 overs. Time for drinks!
21:31 hrs IST: Fine over from Phehlukwayo despite the boundary. Five off it. New Zealand are 58/1 after 13 overs. Guptill 33*, Williamson 14*
21:27 hrs IST: FOUR! Fuller delivery from Morris and Williamson hits it well in the gap between the bowler and the fielder at mid-off. New Zealand are 53/1 after 12 overs. Guptill 29*, Williamson 13*
21:18 hrs IST: Splendid start from Morris. Needs to continue the good work done by Rabada and Ngidi. New Zealand are 43/1 after 10 overs.
21:11 hrs IST: Just four off Rabada's fifth. New Zealand are 41/1 after 9 overs. Guptill 24*, Williamson 6*. Chris Morris comes into the attack.
21:07 hrs IST: Dark clouds hovering around the ground. There's a prediction for rain. The teams as well as the fans wouldn't want another washout. New Zealand are 37/1 after 8 overs.
21:00 hrs IST: Guptill breaks the shackles with three boundaries off Ngidi. New Zealand are 32/1 after 6 overs.
20:55 hrs IST: Only five off the last two deliveries. New Zealand are 19/1 after 5 overs. Guptill 5*, Williamson 3*
20:47 hrs IST: OUT! Caught&Bowled! What start for South Africa. Rabada gets the better of Munro. Kane Williamson comes to the crease. New Zealand are 15/1 after 3 overs.
20:41 hrs IST: Very good start from Ngidi, just three off his first six balls. New Zealand are 12/0 after 2 overs. Rabada to continue.
20:36 hrs IST: Consecutive boundaries from Munro. New Zealand are 9/0 after the first over. Lungi Ngidi comes into the attack.
20:33 hrs IST: Time for New Zealand's reply. Martin Guptill to take strike. Kagiso Rabada to bowl the first over.
20:02 hrs IST: That's it. 15 off the last over. Dussen remains unbeaten on 67. We'll be back in 30 minutes with New Zealand's chase.
19:57 hrs IST: Great comeback from Henry after being hit for a six on the first ball. Ends with 10-2-34-0. South Africa are 226/6 after 48 overs. Ferguson to bowl the final six deliveries.
19:53 hrs IST: Another stupendous over, this time from Ferguson. Only two runs and the wicket of Phehlukwayo. Meanwhile, Dussen crossed the fifty-run mark for the second time in this World Cup. South Africa are 218/6 after 47 overs. Henry to bowl the penultimate over.
19:47 hrs IST: Wonderful over from Boult despite the boundary, six off it. Finishes with figures of 1/63. South Africa are 216/5 after 46 overs.
19:40 hrs IST: OUT! Short and wide of off stump from Ferguson, Miller goes for the uppercut but doesn't get the power and Boult, who earlier dropped Markram, completes a neat catch. Andile Phehlukwayo comes to the crease. South Africa are 210/5 after 45 overs.
19:35 hrs IST: SIX! Full ball from Boult and Miller pummels it over mid-wicket for a maximum. South Africa are 198/4 after 44 overs. Lockie Ferguson comes back into the attack.
19:29 hrs IST: Just 28 runs off the last 30 deliveries. South Africa are 187/4 after 43 overs. Dussen 40*, Miller 17*
19:25 hrs IST: SIX! Tossed up from Santner, Dussen gets down on one knee and smacks it over the long-on boundary for a maximum. Expensive over from the New Zealander, 10 runs off it. South Africa are 183/4 after 42 overs.
19:18 hrs IST: Once again, Santner keeps the run flow under check. South Africa are 169/4 after 40 overs. Dussen 28*, Miller 12*
19:15 hrs IST: David Miller goes past 3000 runs in ODIs. South Africa are 166/4 after 39 overs. Mitchell Santner comes back into the attack.
19:10 hrs IST: Runs have been hard to come by. If New Zealand can restrict South Africa to under 250, it should be an easy chase for them. For the Proteas, Miller needs to go big.
19:04 hrs IST: And De Grandhomme ends with 1/33. South Africa are 156/4 after 37 overs. How much can they get in their last 12 overs?
19:00 hrs IST: Twenty-eight balls since the last boundary. South Africa are 149/4 after 36 overs. Dussen 19*, Miller 2*. De Grandhomme to bowl his final over.
18:51 hrs IST: Only three runs off Boult's seventh. South Africa are 140/4 after 34 overs. Drinks are on the field now.
18:46 hrs IST: OUT! Slightly back of a length from De Grandhomme, some away movement, Markram looks to go over the leg side but ends up hitting it towards the sweeper cover and Colin Munro does the rest. Well-deserved wicket for the New Zealander. He has bowled well. David Miller comes to the crease. South Africa are 137/4 after 33 overs.
18:41 hrs IST: FOUR! Back of a length delivery from Boult and Amla drives it on the rise. South Africa are 135/3 after 32 overs. Markram 38*, Dussen 8*. Colin de Grandhomme comes into the attack.
18:35 hrs IST: Twelve off the last two overs. Lifeline for Markram as Boult drops a sitter at long leg. South Africa are 127/3 after 31 overs. Markram 33*, Dussen 6*. Trent Boult comes into the attack.
18:27 hrs IST: Turning out to be a good spell from Ferguson. One more wicket and New Zealand would feel they are in the driver's seat. South Africa are 115/3 after 29 overs. Markram 27*, Dussen 2*
18:23 hrs IST: OUT! Just the wicket New Zealand would've wanted. Length delivery from Santner, spins from middle stump to hit top of Amla's off stump. He departs for 55(83). Rassie van der Dussen comes to the crease. South Africa are 112/3 after 28 overs.
18:18 hrs IST: Single off the last ball for Markram. Enters 20s. South Africa are 108/2 after 27 overs. Santner to continue.
18:13 hrs IST: Only four runs off Santner's fifth. South Africa are 102/2 after 26 overs. Amla 54*, Markram 19*. Lockie Ferguson comes back into the attack.
18:10 hrs IST: FOUR! And that's a half-century for Amla. Full delivery from De Grandhomme, the South African hits it in the air past the fielder at mid-on. Needs to keep going. South Africa are 98/2 after 25 overs.
18:06 hrs IST: FOUR! Overpitched from Santner and Markram drives it past the bowler. No chance for the fielder at long-on. South Africa are 91/2 after 24 overs.
17:59 hrs IST: Single off the last ball for Amla. Moves into 40s. Another nice over from Santner, four off it. South Africa are 79/2 after 22 overs.
17:56 hrs IST: New Zealand would be pretty happy. Have controlled the run-rate. De Grandhomme doing a fine job. Only six runs off his first 24 balls. South Africa are 75/2 after 21 overs.
17:53 hrs IST: Just four runs off the last 12 deliveries. South Africa under massive pressure. Amla holds the key here. He needs to play a big knock. Time for Markram to justify his selection. Proteas are 73/2 after 20 overs.
17:46 hrs IST: Solid start from Santner, three singles off his first six balls. South Africa are 69/2 after 18 overs. Amla 36*, Markram 5*
17:42 hrs IST: Another extremely good over from De Grandhomme, only one off it. South Africa are 66/2 after 17 overs. Amla 34*, Markram 4*. Time for drinks!
17:37 hrs IST: FOUR! Pitched up from Ferguson and Markram drives it past the fielder at short cover for a boundary. South Africa are 65/2 after 16 overs.
17:33 hrs IST: Excellent over from De Grandhomme, just one run off it. South Africa are 60/2 after 15 overs. Amla 32*, Markram 0*
17:29 hrs IST: OUT! Ferguson - You beauty! Bouncer followed by a 148kph yorker. Crashes onto the off stump. Big blow to the Proteas. Aiden Markram comes to the crease. South Africa are 59/2 after 14 overs. Another change in bowling. Colin de Grandhomme comes into the attack.
17:24 hrs IST: FOUR! Lovely straight drive from Du Plessis, moves to 19. Eight off Henry's seventh. South Africa are 52/1 after 13 overs.
17:19 hrs IST: Two off the last ball for Amla and he completes 8,000 ODI runs. Becomes the second fastest to achieve the landmark (behind India's Virat Kohli). South Africa are 44/1 after 12 overs.
17:15 hrs IST: Another ball outside off-stump, another leave from Amla and another maiden from Henry. South Africa are 40/1 after 11 overs. First change in bowling. Lockie Ferguson comes into the attack.
17:11 hrs IST: FOUR! Overpitched from Boult, Du Plessis takes a big stride forward and hits in the gap between mid-off and extra cover. South Africa are 40/1 after 10 overs. Amla 22*, Du Plessis 13*
17:07 hrs IST: Magnificent over from Henry. Maiden it is. South Africa are 31/1 after 9 overs. Amla 22*, Du Plessis 4*. Boult to bowl the final over of the first Powerplay.
17:03 hrs IST: Couple of boundaries for Amla. One was slapped through cover, second was a fuller delivery hit past the fielder at mid-off. Everything in sync for the South African opener this time. Costly over from Boult, nine off it. South Africa are 31/1 after 8 overs.
16:59 hrs IST: New Zealand continue to attack. Period of negotiation for South Africa. Both Boult and Henry getting some swing. South Africa are 22/1 after 7 overs.
16:55 hrs IST: This is splendid stuff from Boult. Get a feeling something is going to happen here. South Africa are 20/1 after 6 overs. Amla 11*, Du Plessis 2*. Henry again.
16:51 hrs IST: Just three off Henry's third. Continues to keep things tight. New Zealand are 18/1 after 5 overs. Amla 11*, Du Plessis 2*
Meanwhile, Shikhar Dhawan has been ruled out of the World Cup. Dhawan suffered a thumb injury during his 117-run knock against Australia. India have sent a request to the ICC for inclusion of Rishabh Pant into the squad.
16:46 hrs IST: Another tidy over, this time from Boult. Only three runs off it. South Africa are 15/1 after 4 overs. Amla 8*, Du Plessis 2*. The Proteas need a big partnership here.
16:42 hrs IST: Impressive over from Henry. No margin for error. South Africa are 12/1 after 3 overs. Amla 5*, Du Plessis 2*
16:38 hrs IST: OUT! Bowled him! Nice and straight from Boult, it nips back into De Kock slightly, beats the inside edge of the bat and hits the stumps. Fifth time the Kiwi has dismissed De Kock in ODIs. Faf du Plessis comes to the crease. South Africa are 11/1 after 2 overs. Henry to continue.
16:35 hrs IST: FOUR! Straying down leg, De Kock helps to fine leg. Easy pickings! Can't bowl him there.
16:33 hrs IST: FOUR! Too straight from Henry and Amla works it to fine leg for his first boundary of the day. The New Zealander finishes with a dot ball. South Africa are 5/0 after the first over. Trent Boult comes into the attack.
16:30 hrs IST: Time for live action. Quinton de Kock and Hashim Amla to open. Matt Henry to begin the proceedings.
16:05 hrs IST: Playing XIs
South Africa: Hashim Amla, Quinton de Kock(w), Aiden Markram, Faf du Plessis(c), Rassie van der Dussen, David Miller, Andile Phehlukwayo, Chris Morris, Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi, Imran Tahir
New Zealand: Martin Guptill, Colin Munro, Kane Williamson(c), Ross Taylor, Tom Latham(w), James Neesham, Colin de Grandhomme, Mitchell Santner, Matt Henry, Lockie Ferguson, Trent Boult
16:03 hrs IST: New Zealand have won the toss and have opted to field.
15:36 hrs IST: Toss at 4:00 PM IST, 49-overs-per-side game to begin at 4:30 PM. Things looking very positive.
15:15 hrs IST: GOOD NEWS - Sunshine now. Update (hopefully positive) soon!
14:59 hrs IST: Both the umpires don't seem convinced. We'll have another inspection at 15:30 lST. Stay tuned for live updates!
14:46 hrs IST: The umpires Nigel Llong and Ian Gould make their way out to the middle for the inspection. We should have an update soon.
14:27 hrs IST: The toss has been delayed due to a wet outfield. Official Inspection at 14:45 IST. Luckily, no rain (at least for now).
14:05 hrs IST: Imran Tahir and Lockie Ferguson have taken seven wickets apiece - the most between overs 11 and 40 in this World Cup.
13:51 hrs IST: STAT ATTACK - South Africa spinner Imran Tahir has bowled 222 deliveries at this World Cup and is yet to be hit for six or bowl a wide or no ball.
13:30 hrs IST: RECENT HISTORY - The Black Caps dramatically reached their first World Cup final four years ago at South Africa's expense courtesy of Grant Elliott's six off the penultimate ball delivery. They also defeated the Proteas at the quarter-final stage in 2011.
13:15 hrs IST: WHAT THEY SAID -
South Africa wicketkeeper-batsman Quinton de Kock: "I think, obviously, it's a big game for us, but in saying that, our next three or four games that we have, they're all going to be big games anyway for us for the rest of the tournament. We're just going to have to go out there, keep our heads steady, and play freely."
New Zealand's Trent Boult on the chance to potentially knock out South Africa: "It's not driving us in any respect. Every World Cup game, in my opinion, is a big stage, and it's a chance for us to go out there and perform and show we can bring the game and the style that we play back home in New Zealand very well to test it against quality players in foreign conditions on a big stage in front of all these fancy cameras. So we can't wait."
13:10 hrs IST: STAT ATTACK - New Zealand have won 11 of their last 12 completed World Cup matches, their only defeat coming against Australia in the 2015 final to Australia at the MCG.
13:06 hrs IST: BIG NUMBER - This will be the eighth World Cup meeting between New Zealand and South Africa, the Black Caps have won five of the previous seven, including each of the last four.
13:00 hrs IST: Hello and welcome to Outlook's live coverage of the ICC World Cup 2019 match between New Zealand and South Africa.
South Africa will be buoyed by the return of Lungi Ngidi - who missed the games against India and Afghanistan due to a hamstring injury - and an improved display in their previous outing against Gulbadin Naib’s team. But South Africa can't relax one bit of they want to the World Cup semis. They need to win all their remaining matches to seal a last-four spot.
With seven points, New Zealand are well placed for a top-four finish though they still have to face a number of tournament's leading sides like England and Australia .
For the Proteas, a lot will depend on leg-spinner Imran Tahir if the Edgbaston surface offers turn. The 40-year-old Tahir took two wickets each against England and Bangladesh, before ending with 4/29 against Afghanistan.
New Zealand, on the other hand, have a splendid batting unit. Skipper Kane Williamson anchored the side to victory against Afghanistan, while Ross Taylor has also been among the runs. The team will hope for openers Colin Munro and Martin Guptill to get big scores.
In the bowling department, Mitchell Santner (3.83), Lockie Ferguson (3.88) and Trent Boult (4.20) all are among the leading bowlers in terms of economy.
