Cricket: NZ trumped by big-hitting South Africans

New Zealand couldn't live with the the big-hitting blades of South Africa as they suffered their first loss at the Twenty20 cricket world championship in the West Indies this morning (NZT).

The South Africans swiped 11 sixes, including five to Albie Morkel, to set up a 13-run win in the Super Eight match at Kensington Oval in Bridgetown, Barbados.

New Zealand were on track to haul in South Africa's 170 for four for periods of a creditable run chase but no batsman could establish themselves for long enough and they eventually settled for 157 for seven.

After winning two warmup games and their group matches against Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe in Guyana, the New Zealanders are now in a precarious position, probably needing to win their remaining Super Eight matches against Pakistan and England to advance to the semifinals.

New Zealand's response effectively seized up midway through when key batsmen Jesse Ryder and Ross Taylor both looped simple catches to the infield in the space of three overs. Opener Ryder top-scored with 33 off 28 balls while Taylor's dismissal for 19 left New Zealand needing 83 off less than eight overs with six wickets remaining.

They struggled to stay in touch against a tight South African attack and only some bright hitting from Nathan McCullum, who was unbeaten on 26 off 17 balls, improved their stocks although victory was always unlikely over the closing stages.

Martin Guptill fell for 18, Scott Styris for 13 and Gareth Hopkins for 18 as the New Zealanders failed to push on through the middle stages, with six of the seven dismissals falling to catches in the outfield, not helped by a pitch lacking pace.

South African captain Graeme Smith opted to bat first but the innings didn't accelerate until the closing stages, where they compiled 62 runs off the final five overs.

The New Zealand bowlers were too full to Morkel in particular as the big-hitting left-hander raced to 40 off 18 balls.

He was well supported at the death by an unbeaten 47 from AB de Villiers while Jacques Kallis struck 31 and Herschelle Gibbs 30 at the top of the order.

Captain Daniel Vettori was the pick of the New Zealand bowlers, taking none for 21 off his four overs to put the brakes on through the middle stages.

The most expensive was seamer Tim Southee, who took one for 39 off three and was on the receiving end of Morkel's late swinging.

Earlier today England won the first match on New Zealand's side of the Super Eight draw, beating Pakistan by six wickets courtesy of an unbeaten 73 from Kevin Pietersen.

The New Zealanders face Pakistan in Bridgetown on Sunday (NZT) and England at St Lucia on Tuesday.

SCORECARD

South Africa

J Kallis c Southee b Oram 31
G Smith c Guptill b Southee 14
H Gibbs c B McCullum b N McCullum 30
A de Villiers not out 47
J Morkel run out 40
M Boucher not out 0
Extras (6b, 2w) 8
Total (for 4 wkts, 20 overs) 170
Fall: 40, 55, 97, 169
Bowling: N McCullum 4-0-35-1 (1w), S Bond 4-0-33-0, T Southee 3-0-39-1, J Oram 3-0-22-1, D Vettori 4-0-21-0, S Styris 2-0-14-0

New Zealand

B McCullum c Gibbs b Langeveldt 6
J Ryder c de Villiers b Botha 33
M Guptill c Morkel b Botha 18
R Taylor c Gibbs b M Morkel 19
S Styris c Gibbs b Langeveldt 13
G Hopkins c Steyn b Morkel 18
J Oram lbw b Steyn 0
N McCullum not out 26
D Vettori not out 10
Extras (7lb, 5w, 2nb) 14
Total (for 7 wkts, 20 overs) 157
Fall: 7, 51, 67, 87, 109, 110, 123
Bowling: C Langeveldt 4-0-39-2 (2w), D Steyn 4-0-25-1 (1nb, 2w), M Morkel 4-0-27-2 (1nb), J Kallis 4-0-23-0 (1w), J Botha 3-0-23-2, J Morkel 1-0-13-0

Result: South Africa won by 13 runs

- NZPA



UPDATES

8.38am
The Black Caps' next match in the Super Eights stage is against Pakistan on Sunday morning (NZT). Basically, we have to win that one AND the following match against England, to get through to the semis.

8.36am
All over in Barbados. NZ finish at 157-7 - a victory to South Africa by 13 runs.

8.32am
The Final Rites begin. One over left, Vettori and N McCullum at the crease, but the Kiwis are still 26 runs short of their target today. South Africa have stuck with their tried and trusted pace attack - and as the pre-match predictions suggested, they've been dominant.

8.28am
Not even "super Nath" can save us this time, folks. Black Caps finish the 18th over at 135-7. 35 runs needed off two overs.

8.24am
C'mon Nathan McCullum! Rescue us again. This one's a better over for the Kiwis, including a Free Hit for a no-ball.

8.22am
Gareth Hopkins tries to help himself to runs outside off stump again but this time isn't so successful. He's caught, gone for 18. NZ 120-7 now. They need about 50 off four overs, with the tail-enders in. Ugh

8.17am
Big hitting Jacob Oram comes out, but his stay is short-lived. He plunges NZ deeper into the mire. He's trapped in front, lbw to Steyn, without scoring.

8.15am
There goes Styris, gone. He slogs it to Gibbs at midwicket in desperation, leaving the Black Caps at 109-5 at the end of the 15th over. Five overs to go, 60-odd runs needed.

8.10am
The South African fast bowlers are certainly generating some pace. Gareth Hopkins for the Black Caps takes advantage of this, cutting a high delivery all the way across the boundary rope behind the slips for an unlikely six. NZ 109-4 now.

8.02am
At this stage NZ requires another 74 runs with 6 wickets remaining, off 40 deliveries.

7.57am
NZ seem to be giving catching practice to the Proteas. Ross Taylor lobs one to mid on and now the Kiwis are 87-4 into the 13th over of the run chase.

7.50am
Jesse Ryder's been going well, but he too is now out caught. (For 33.) That leaves the Black Caps in a spot of bother at 67-3. Ross Taylor and Scotty Styris are at the crease now.

7.38am
NZ reach their half-century when Martin Guptill holes out to Albie Morkel in the deep. NZ 52-2 now.

7.15am
There goes Brendon McCullum - out in the first over. That's not good.

7.10am
Tthe Black Caps are chasing 171 off their 20 overs to beat South Africa in this Super Eights match in Barbados.

6.50am
South Africa have reached the potentially match-winning score of 170 at the Kensington Oval. Most batsmen contributed, with the high scores being: de Villiers (47) and Morkel (40).