1st Semi Final - New Zealand v South Africa (4th March)

[Molehill]

One will be going down tomorrow.

New Zealand have beaten South Africa in the 2011 WC QF, 2015 WC SF & 2025 CT SF

South African have beaten New Zealand 5 times in T20 WCs & New Zealand have never beaten SA in T20 WCs

I might be wrong, but looking on as a neutral, one team just seems a bit better than the other. I've been particularly impressed this tournament by Ngidi and his ability to take wickets with variations.

It is tough to keep good form through tournaments though, and they are often won by teams peaking at the right time. But there seems little evidence that NZ are getting better anyway (arguably their best performance was against Afghanistan first up).

 

[SeamUp]

I might be wrong, but looking on as a neutral, one team just seems a bit better than the other. I've been particularly impressed this tournament by Ngidi and his ability to take wickets with variations.

It is tough to keep good form through tournaments though, and they are often won by teams peaking at the right time. But there seems little evidence that NZ are getting better anyway (arguably their best performance was against Afghanistan first up).

SA have been so good until SFs before in so many events and then blown out in them (even QFs if you include 1996 CWC & that 2011 CWC v Kiwi's) and until we consistently get over this hurdle I think it will always be in the back of our minds (the concern). I think I saw we the only team to get to T20 WC SFs unbeaten 3 times now.

But from a cricketing perspective I do agree. Lungi has always had the skills but fitness issues have let him down. He is one that needs to keep bowling and then there was a time he overused the slower-ball but he is right back to his best and balances the other options perfectly.

I'm trying to see the difference between Ahmedabad and Kolkata. Ahmedabad looks quicker and had more bounce. Will that negate us? Because Ngidi's slower balls tended to kick and then Jansen's bounce. Will be interesting. Kiwi quicks have to be better than they were against us in Ahmedabad mind.

 

[Molehill]

SA have been so good until SFs before in so many events and then blown out in them (even QFs if you include 1996 CWC & that 2011 CWC v Kiwi's) and until we consistently get over this hurdle I think it will always be in the back of our minds (the concern). I think I saw we the only team to get to T20 WC SFs unbeaten 3 times now.

But from a cricketing perspective I do agree. Lungi has always had the skills but fitness issues have let him down. He is one that needs to keep bowling and then there was a time he overused the slower-ball but he is right back to his best and balances the other options perfectly.

I'm trying to see the difference between Ahmedabad and Kolkata. Ahmedabad looks quicker and had more bounce. Will that negate us? Because Ngidi's slower balls tended to kick and then Jansen's bounce. Will be interesting. Kiwi quicks have to be better than they were against us in Ahmedabad mind.

Yep, where as the 2 World Cups England won, they were beaten both times in the opening group stages and then improved massively as the tournament went on.

To be fair, playing in Sri Lanka didn't offer a massive amount for the quicks and NZ may well be more suited to pitches where Henry in particular can potentially take wickets first up.

 

[centurymaker]

How many times have NZ and SA played each other in ICC Knockouts?

 

[RossTaylorsBox]

Twice I think.

 

[Kenneth Viljoen]

How many times have NZ and SA played each other in ICC Knockouts?

4 times , twice in the ODI WC , twice in the Champions Trophy.

NZ have won all 4

 

[SeamUp]

4 times , twice in the ODI WC , twice in the Champions Trophy.

NZ have won all 4

Was looking overall
We haven't won many

CWC
1992 SF loss v England
1996 QF loss v West Indies
1999 SF tie v Australia
2003
2007 SF loss v Australia
2011 QF loss v New Zealand
2015 QF win v Sri Lanka
2015 SF loss v New Zealand
2019
2023 SF loss v Australia

Champs Trophy
1998 QF win v England
1998 SF win v Sri Lanka
1998 F win v West Indies
2000 QF win v England
2000 SF loss v India
2002 SF loss v India
2004
2006 SF loss v West Indies
2009
2013 SF loss v England
2017
2025 SF loss v New Zealand

T20 WC
2007
2009 SF loss v Pakistan
2010
2012
2014 SF loss v India
2016
2021
2022
2024 SF win v Afghanistan
2024 F loss v India
2026....

 

[centurymaker]

So in World Cups it is 2-10.

2015 QF vs SL in Australia.
2024 SF vs Afghan

So they need a win against a top level side in knockouts of WCs. Even the four CT knockout wins are very old. Let's see if they can make it 3-10 or if it goes 2-11.

 

[SeamUp]

So in World Cups it is 2-10.

2015 QF vs SL in Australia.
2024 SF vs Afghan

So they need a win against a top level side in knockouts of WCs. Even the four CT knockout wins are very old. Let's see if they can make it 3-10 or if it goes 2-11.

To be precise 2-1-9

We needed to get over the line v India but the fact we've bounced back and did what we did the World Test Championships is a positive sign. We off a pretty good last World Cup and Champions Trophy as well so even though we still have got to get over that hurdle it feels like SA cricket is on the up and in a good space again. So thinking positive.

From about 2016 to 2022 the only good thing we did was win the Sandpaper Gate test series and in my opinion, one the greatest test series of all time.

 

[centurymaker]

NZ had a similar problem but in Semi Finals, until they fixed it by winning 2015 SF, 2019 SF, then 2021 T20 SF and even 2025 CT SF.

Since 2015 NZ have won the above 4 SFs out of 6 SFs they qualified for. Previously they had lost every single SF in WCs.

 

[Molehill]

To be precise 2-1-9

We needed to get over the line v India but the fact we've bounced back and did what we did the World Test Championships is a positive sign. We off a pretty good last World Cup and Champions Trophy as well so even though we still have got to get over that hurdle it feels like SA cricket is on the up and in a good space again. So thinking positive.

From about 2016 to 2022 the only good thing we did was win the Sandpaper Gate test series and in my opinion, one the greatest test series of all time.

I don't think the WTC compares to the pressures of knockout games that turn on individual deliveries in short spaces of time. But it shouldn't really come down to that, SA just look a better team all round.

BTW, here's my post from the tournament predictions thread:

Semi Finalists:
India
SA
Eng
NZ

Final:
India
SA

Winner:
SA

 

[Pup Clarke]

I really favour SA in this contest

Santner and Phillips need to have big matches for NZ to get close. Plus Allen at the top of the order seriously needs to fire

 

[Stefan9]

SA have been so good until SFs before in so many events and then blown out in them (even QFs if you include 1996 CWC & that 2011 CWC v Kiwi's) and until we consistently get over this hurdle I think it will always be in the back of our minds (the concern). I think I saw we the only team to get to T20 WC SFs unbeaten 3 times now.

But from a cricketing perspective I do agree. Lungi has always had the skills but fitness issues have let him down. He is one that needs to keep bowling and then there was a time he overused the slower-ball but he is right back to his best and balances the other options perfectly.

I'm trying to see the difference between Ahmedabad and Kolkata. Ahmedabad looks quicker and had more bounce. Will that negate us? Because Ngidi's slower balls tended to kick and then Jansen's bounce. Will be interesting. Kiwi quicks have to be better than they were against us in Ahmedabad mind.

Archer had a good time in Kolkata in opening spells but think those were day games. So unsure how much quicks will get out of it.

 

[TheHound]

The one who wins the toss wins this game

 

[SeamUp]

The one who wins the toss wins this game

It's sad but true going by the stats.

 

[SeamUp]

 

[Kenneth Viljoen]

View attachment 52747

Its such a stupid question it deserved that response

 

[Skyliner]

‘Black Caps spearhead Matt Henry is on track to feature in Thursday morning’s T20 World Cup semifinal against South Africa.
Having returned to Christchurch last Saturday for the birth of his second child, the 34-year-old was due to arrive in Kolkata on Wednesday morning (NZT).’

 

[Bahnz]

‘Black Caps spearhead Matt Henry is on track to feature in Thursday morning’s T20 World Cup semifinal against South Africa.
Having returned to Christchurch last Saturday for the birth of his second child, the 34-year-old was due to arrive in Kolkata on Wednesday morning (NZT).’

Flying in the day before is not good, can't imagine Henry will be anywhere near his best.

 

[Zinzan]

Flying in the day before is not good, can't imagine Henry will be anywhere near his best.

It's not ideal, but it's not a Test or even an ODI, he only needs to get through a max. of 4 overs & a run around in the field.