New Zealand's Kane Williamson remains the dangerman in Wednesday's ICC Champions League semi-final against the Proteas.
Image: AFP
COMMENT
The legendary dance between the world’s most talented sporting nations, South Africa and New Zealand, continues in Lahore on Wednesday when the Proteas and Black Caps face off in the second ICC Champions Trophy semi-final.
The most popular rivalry – between the two countries’ rugby teams, the Springboks and All Blacks – has captured the hearts of millions around the world.
Though the All Blacks dominated the Springboks for the most part this century, the Springboks have been able to turn their fortunes around against their Kiwi counterparts, beating them most recently in the final of the 2023 Rugby World Cup to win back-to-back world titles.
Similarly, the Black Caps have dominated the Proteas in ICC events, particularly in the knockout stages, including the quarter-final defeat during the 2011 World Cup in Mirpur and the semi-final ousting at Eden Gardens during the 2015 World Cup.
With the Springboks having had the upper hand over the All Blacks in recent years, perhaps the Proteas can too salvage a rare ICC event victory over the Blackcaps in Lahore on Wednesday.
It won't be easy, though, as New Zealand top-order batter Kane Williamson has been hammering South Africa in his 15-year-long ODI career, with the right-handed batter averaging a touch over 57 against the Proteas.
In his 18 ODIs against SA, Williamson has hammered three tons and three half-centuries; one of them scored in the 2019 ODI World Cup in the UK. The right-handed batter’s unbeaten 106 snatched victory from South Africa in the last over of the encounter, as the Kiwis won the match by four wickets.
Last month, during the tri-nation series between South Africa, New Zealand and Pakistan, Williamson gave the South Africans a stern reminder of his dominance over their bowling attack. The 34-year-old smashed an unbeaten 133, helping the Black Caps chase down 305 runs with eight balls to spare.
The only time South Africa beat New Zealand in ODI cricket in almost a decade was in the 2023 ODI World Cup in India, and in that victory, the Black Caps – crucially – played without the services of Williamson, who was injured.
The classy top-order batter is fit for the semi-final on Wednesday and is going into the contest fresh from a strong performance against India, where he blasted 81 in tough batting conditions in Dubai.
Apart from Williamson being a thorn in South Africa’s backside, the Proteas’ lack of game time against the Kiwis in ODI cricket this decade may play a factor.
South Africa have played the Black Caps in only three ODI games since their last bilateral series in the 2016/17 season. Although teams have access to cutting-edge technology and video analysts nowadays, competing against a team out in the park and watching film are often two completely different ball games altogether.
Will South Africa be strong enough to tame Williamson and nullify their lack of game time against New Zealand in Lahore?
It remains to be seen as Temba Bavuma and Co will walk into their third semi-final fixture in three years in ICC events.
