South Africa vs. New Zealand: Stats and Trivia – ICC World Cup 2011
One of the strongest contenders and the leader of the Group B of the ICC World Cup 2011, South Africa has geared up to take on New Zealand today in their quarter-final game at the Shere Bangla Stadium in Mirpur. Both teams will be looking for a victory, as this is the knock-out stage, where the winner advances and the loser goes home.
The Shere Bangla Stadium has a slow, but beautiful batting track. This will ensure that a massive score is likely by the team that goes into bat first. The Proteas are on top of their game with five wins in the first round, as the Black Caps are also playing some fighting cricket. It is interesting to note that the Black Caps entered the World Cup with only two wins in their last 10 games, but they have performed magnificently and have turned the records now.
The team batting second has won 29 times at the Shere Bangla Stadium whereas the side that bowls second has succeeded in only 18 games. South Africa has come first in all three games they played at the venue, as New Zealand has won only once in their seven matches at this stadium.
New Zealand and South Africa have faced each other 51 times in 50-overs cricket. Out of 51 matches, the Kiwis have 17 wins to their credit, while South Africa succeeded in 30 games. The South African team has the advantage in head-to-head contests, but the two teams have played only a single match in the last three years.
The highest score in any New Zealand versus South Africa match is 324, which was put up by the Proteas in 2000 at Centurion. The lowest total in any contest between these two sides is 108, which was also made by the Proteas in the Subcontinent.
Both teams have an even record playing in the Subcontinent, as they have won one match each. The Black Caps lead South Africa by 3-2 in their mega event head-to-head competitions. In the last two World Cup clashes between the two teams, the Black Caps thrashed South Africa each time.
Graeme Smith has announced his retirement from One Day International cricket after the World Cup, so if the South African team loses this match, it will be his last 50-over game. Hashim Amla played his debut ODI in Bangladesh in 2008. Jacques Kallis has scored 1385 runs against the Black Caps with three hundreds and nine half-centuries. It will be Kallis’ 300th innings in ODIs.
The Kiwis are looking to have their regular skipper back, as Daniel Vettori is expected to join the team for the crucial match. Ross Taylor, the stunning Kiwis’ middle-order batsman, is 24 runs short of his 3000 ODI runs. Daryl Tuffey has joined the New Zealand squad and is likely to play in the match against South Africa. In 94 matches for the Black Caps, Tuffey has picked up 110 wickets. Scott Styris has scored a couple of World Cup centuries, but both came in defeats.
The first quarter-final match between Pakistan and West Indies was played at the same venue and the spinners were the centre of attention in the game. South Africa’s Imran Tahir and New Zealand’s Vettori will play a big role for their respective teams, as the pitch conditions will favour their bowling. The game promises to be very exciting, as both teams will go all out for a win and try to move one step closer to the ultimate prize, the World Cup trophy.
