Champions Trophy Betting - New Zealand vs. South Africa
by Juris Graney
South Africa should consider petitioning the ICC to have the Champions Trophy restarted to clean their slate after a comprehensive walloping of New Zealand.
What a difference a day makes.
New Zealand (+200) were slated as outsiders against South Africa (-260) for the September 24 clash but after their match against Sri Lanka, which opened this year’s event was diabolic, there was an argument that the Kiwis could spring a big win.
South Africa deserved to lose the first match with wayward bowling and ill-disciplined batting contributing to a defeat that was lessened thanks to rain, which forced a result to be decided by the Duckworth Lewis system.
New Zealand ’s loss to South Africa this time around was also deserving.
Proteas captain Graeme Smith must have been sweating at the toss though as the same pitch they used in the last match caused them so many troubles.
He won the toss and again sent the opposition in however there was no Tillakaratne Dilshan magic at the top of the order to spurn New Zealand into the 300-run territory. In fact, the Black Caps struggled to make the 200-mark and if it wasn’t for Ross Taylor (72) they might have missed that total all together.
Opener Jesse Ryder (8) failed while Brendon McCullum (44), Martin Guptill (21) and Grant Elliott (39) got starts and failed to capitalise while the Kiwis tail committed the ultimate sin and didn’t bat out the full 50 overs, dismissed for 214 after 47.5 overs.
Proteas quick Wayne Parnell turned around his poor figures in the first match, in which he went for almost 80 runs, taking game best figures of 5/57 off eight overs while Dale Steyn was again the spearhead claiming 2/32 off 9.5 overs.
Roelof van der Merwe proved his worth to the Proteas tying up one end, his 2/35 off 10 overs.
In reply, South Africa made light work of the run chase courtesy of 70 not out from AB de Villiers with Smith (7) the only batsman not break into double figures with Hashim Amla (38), Jacques Kallis (36), JP Duminy (11), Mark Boucher (28) and Albie Morkel (19no) all contributing with the bat.
The Kiwi bowlers were made to work hard on a deck that earlier in the day offered spin and seam to the Proteas quicks yet the Kiwis were unable to emulate their performance.
