Former South African spinner Paul Adams has criticised New Zealand skipper Kane Williamson for not walking off following a dismissal during an Imran Tahir over, which was adjudged as not-out by the umpire.

The incident happened during the 38th over when the likes of Williamson and Colin De Grandhomme were handed crucial lifelines. The Kiwis�?skipper went on to score an unbeaten ton which guided New Zealand to a four-wicket win over the Proteas.

The knock, however, was hit by major controversy as the replays showed the ball had struck the inside edge of his bat. Tahir did appeal for the dismissal only for the official to turn down his shout. A brief discussion between the spinner and keeper Quinton de Kock followed after which they decided not to go for the review.

Reacting to the incident, former spinner Paul Adams has upbraided Williamson for not playing the game through the ethics. Taking to Twitter, Adams wrote, “Kane Williamson was Mankad after he didn’t walk. Would he be upset.�?u>

If Kane Williamson was Mankad after he didn’t walk. Would he be upset

�?Paul Adams (@PaulAdams39) June 19, 2019

Meanwhile, the Proteas�?captain, Faf du Plessis said the team didn’t take the review because he trusted de Kock’s judgement.

“We weren’t aware of it. I think I was at long on at the time, and Quinny is the closest to the action. He’s always my go to man,�?du Plessis said.

“I just thought it was a plain miss. I just heard about it now at the post match that he said he had a nick on it. But even Kane said he didn’t know he had to fine tune it. He would have referred it. But that’s not where the game was won and lost,�?he added.

Feature image courtesy: AFP / Oli Scarff

It’s been 20 years since South Africa beat New Zealand at the World Cup. The last time it happened, England were the hosts and the venue - Warwickshire County Cricket Club in Edgbaston. So, one would find it relatively easy to pardon any South African fans if they thought the stars would once again align well to help their side trounce the Kiwis.

On Wednesday (June 19), nothing apart from this small and inconsequential piece of history favoured the Proteas. They were trounced by a determined-looking New Zealand by four wickets as they extended their unbeaten run at the 2019 ICC World Cup to four matches. But a closer look at the match reveals how big was this win for the Kiwis. Not just in terms of the numbers or the opposition, but also in terms of proving that this team has the capabilities of digging deep for victories if need be.

The game started off on a somber note after the scheduled play was pushed by over an hour and the game reduced to 49 overs after the ground staff struggled to dry the outfield post some downpour. But once it got rolling, the Black Caps were on the money from the word go. 

READ | Do New Zealand have the best pace attack at the World Cup?

It’s their pace battery that’s wreaked havoc so far in the competition. The quartet of Trent Boult, Matt Henry, Jimmy Neesham and Lockie Ferguson have been deadly and share 32 of the 36 wickets that they have managed. And things were no different at Edgbaston too. Boult was the first to strike as he had Quinton de Kock’s stumps flying all over the place with the one angling in towards the leg stump. Soon Ferguson joined the party as he sent the Protean skipper Faf du Plessis back into the hut with a pitch-perfect yorker.

Soon it would feel like a lopsided affair as the South Africans could barely muster any courage to face the Kiwi onslaught. But even as the wickets kept tumbling at one end, the likes of Hashim Amla and Rassie van der Dussen stuck to their task and helped South Africa post 241 for six. On any other day, the total should have been a cake walk. But not today. The downpour meant that the pitch was damp and sticky, and the ball was not coming on to the bat as one would have liked.

'Slower ball it is, six it is!'

See Kane Williamson's instant classic and other super shots from New Zealand's innings#BACKTHEBLACKCAPS#NZvSA #CWC19 pic.twitter.com/MD2k5GJqDH

�?ICC (@ICC) June 19, 2019

Though the Kiwis came out all guns blazing, they were soon in for some reality check. Collin Munro was back in the pavilion after failing to negotiate some chin music. In came skipper Kane Williamson who too struggled to get bat to ball in the start of the innings. But as his stay progressed, Williamson realized the need for patience and taking opportunities when presented. While he was cautious against the spin of Imran Tahir and the guile of Kagiso Rabada, the 28-year-old went after Andile Phehlukwayo. Later, Colin de Grandhomme would too chip in with a valuable knock to ensure that his side crossed the line.

While for the Kiwis, this game showcased their willingness to dig deep and adjust to the prevalent conditions in order to eke out a result, the South African should look back to it as a game in which their sloppiness under pressure and a few error judgements cost them dear.

Feature image courtesy: AFP Photo/ Oli Scarff

Captain Faf du Plessis was left contemplating the ruins of another World Cup campaign on the ground where South Africa experienced their greatest heartache in the competition 20 years ago.

The Proteas' hopes of reaching the semi-finals in England and Wales are all but over after a four-wicket defeat by New Zealand on Wednesday.

One minor consolation is that the recriminations from Wednesday's reverse at Edgbaston are unlikely to be as great as those at Warwickshire's headquarters 20 years ago when a disastrous run-out saw them tie with Australia and miss out on the final due to an inferior net run rate.

South Africa are still alive at the World Cup but with just one win from six matches it would take an extraordinary combination of results to see them into the semi-finals from a 10-team round-robin group phase.

On Wednesday, South Africa fought hard to get to 241 for six on a difficult pitch after losing the toss.

And it so very nearly proved enough, with New Zealand needing a superbly paced 106 not out from captain and star batsman Kane Williamson to see them home with just three balls to spare.

Fans of AB de Villiers will argue this proves the Proteas were wrong to refuse the gifted batsman's offer to come out of international retirement for the World Cup, but others will say the offer came far too late for it to be accepted by South Africa's selectors.

"Kane played a great knock, you know," said Du Plessis. "It's probably the difference between the two sides, just one guy taking it through.

"You need someone to go further, and we haven't had that."

Inevitably, given their painful World Cup history, the question of whether South Africa "choked" on Wednesday is bound to be asked.

"Choking", however, implies squandering a winning position, whereas this match in Birmingham was more of a see-saw contest determined largely by Williamson's knock.

The New Zealand skipper is a world-class batsman and the truth is that South Africa's World Cup campaign was in trouble long before this fixture.

Losing Dale Steyn without the veteran fast bowler delivering a ball at the tournament was blow, but South Africa were gambling on the 35-year-old recovering from a longstanding shoulder injury.

Having tournament hosts England and another highly fancied side in India as two of their early opponents meant South Africa had a tough start and it was no surprise when they lost both of those matches.

But what really derailed their campaign was a 21-run defeat by Bangladesh, where the Tigers piled up 330.

Several South Africa batsmen got starts in reply, including Du Plessis, who made 62, but nobody was able to play the major innings required.

The Proteas' painful history at the World Cup is littered with self-inflicted wounds.

As well as the 1999 run-out debacle, they exited in 2003 after misunderstanding the rules governing rain-affected matches, and made the controversial decision to drop Kyle Abbott for what turned out to be a nailbiting semi-final loss to New Zealand four years ago.

South Africa did not help themselves on Wednesday when Williamson, who had then made 76, got a thin edge off Imran Tahir to wicketkeeper Quinton de Kock.

The Proteas did not request a review, only for replays to show a nick.

"I think I was at long on at the time, and Quinny is the closest to the action," said Du Plessis. "That's not where the game was won and lost."

This World Cup could well mark the last appearance at the global showpiece for players in their mid-30s such as Du Plessis and Proteas opener Hashim Amla, who never really got back to his best after being hit on the head by a bouncer from England's Jofra Archer.

"If you look at our batting unit, we've got some future talent and some promising players, but if you put our top six and you put the other top sixes around the world, purely on a numbers point of view, we won't be in the top three," admitted Du Plessis.

Feature image courtesy: AFP Photo/ Oli Scarff

Rassie van der Dussen gave South Africa something to bowl at as the Proteas struggled to 241 for six against tight bowling from New Zealand while battling for a win they need to keep their fading World Cup hopes alive.

After a soggy outfield delayed Wednesday's start at Edgbaston and reduced the match to 49 overs per side, Black Caps captain Kane Williamson won the toss and chose to field, hoping to take advantage of bowler-friendly conditions.

Hashim Amla made a sluggish 55 off 83 bals but Van der Dussen's 67 not out came at better than a run-a-ball.

"It's a bit of a sticky wicket, there has been a lot of rain around here in the last two weeks," said Van der Dussen during the innings break.

"We need to make 241 enough. We know it's not a 300 wicket. If you get 250-260 then you can defend that and that's what we set out to do.

"Our backs are against the wall so we have to come through," he added after New Zealand's bowlers kept the scoring rate to below five an over.

New Zealand, the 2015 losing finalists, were on top early when Trent Boult demolished Quinton de Kock's stumps, sending him back to the pavilion for just five.

Amla and skipper Faf du Plessis helped the Proteas recover to 59-1 in the 14th over.

But Lockie Ferguson then produced an impressive yorker to bowl Du Plessis for 23 immediately after a testing bouncer.

Amla and Aiden Markram put on 52 for the third wicket before veteran opener Amla was bowled by left-arm spinner Mitchell Santner.

During his innings, Amla became the fourth South African player to reach 8,000 runs in one-day internationals.

He is the second-fastest player (176 innings) from any side to reach the milestone after India's Virat Kohli (175 innings).

Markram was caught by Colin Munro off Colin de Grandhomme for 38 and David Miller went for 36 before a late flourish from Van der Dussen gave the scoreboard a look of respectability.

South Africa, who brought in fast bowler Lungi Ngidi for Beuran Hendricks, must win this match if they are to stand a realistic chance of reaching the semi-finals after finally recording their first victory of the tournament, against minnows Afghanistan on Saturday.

Despite that nine-wicket win, Du Plessis's side are still languishing in eighth spot in the 10-team table after five games, with the top four qualifying for next month's semis.

After Wednesday's game, they will face Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Australia.

New Zealand are flying high and a fourth win would lift them to the top of the table ahead of matches against West Indies, Pakistan, Australia and hosts England.

Feature image courtesy: AFP / Oli Scarff

Kane Williamson anchored New Zealand to a tense four-wicket victory at Edgbaston on Wednesday after an astonishing stroke of luck when South Africa failed to review an edge from the Kiwi captain.

The Black Caps' skipper was on 76 when he got a faint edge to a ball by leg-spinner Imran Tahir that Quinton de Kock took behind the stumps but South Africa took no action.

That decision could prove fatal to their tournament hopes, with the Proteas now needing a miracle to progress to the semi-finals after just one win from six matches, while New Zealand now top the 10-team table.

Earlier, Martin Guptill, who had been guiding New Zealand towards their target of 242 off a rain-reduced 49 overs with a minimum of fuss, trod on his stumps to spark a mini collapse.

The batsman, on 35, pulled Andile Phehlukwayo and ended up swivelling, only to lose his balance and clip his leg stump with his foot.

Two overs later New Zealand slipped to 74-3 when Ross Taylor tickled a Chris Morris leg-side delivery and De Kock took the catch behind the stumps. Tom Latham's dismissal left them struggling at 80-4.

Jimmy Neesham (23) steadied the ship with his skipper but when he was out, New Zealand were back in trouble at 137-5.

Colin de Grandhomme came to New Zealand's rescue, batting positively and bringing up his fifty off 39 balls but when he was caught in the deep for 60 by Du Plessis off Lungi Ngidi, Kiwi nerves were jangling again.

Eight were still needed off the final over.

But Mitchell Santner pinched a single and Williamson kept his nerve, bringing up his century with a huge six off the next ball and then a four sealed the victory.

Earlier, Rassie van der Dussen gave South Africa something to bowl at as the Proteas struggled to 241-6 after losing the toss.

Hashim Amla made a sluggish 55 off 83 balls but Van der Dussen's 67 not out came at better than a run a ball.

During his innings, Amla became the fourth South African to reach 8,000 runs in one-day internationals.

He is the second-fastest player (176 innings) from any side to reach the milestone after India's Virat Kohli (175 innings).

Feature image courtesy: AFP Photo/ Oli Scarff

Quinton de Kock has told his South Africa teammates to keep their heads when they face New Zealand in a must-win World Cup match on Wednesday.

South Africa's hopes of making the semi-finals would effectively be over if they lose at Edgbaston after a wretched start to the tournament.

Defeats to England, Bangladesh and India have left South Africa wicketkeeper-batsman de Kock billing the New Zealand match as a ‘quarter-final�?

A nine-wicket victory over Afghanistan on Saturday was their first win in this World Cup in England and Wales. The Proteas cannot afford any more slip-ups in their remaining games against New Zealand, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Australia if they are to maintain slender hopes of a semi-final berth.

Quinton admits South Africa's chances of avoiding an embarrassingly early elimination will be wrecked if they do not cope with the stress of playing in a do-or-die situation. "Obviously it's a big game for us but, in saying that, our next three or four games that we have, they are all going to be big games for us for the rest of the tournament," he said.

"We're just going to have to go out there, keep our heads steady and play freely. Tomorrow is a quarterfinal, I guess you could say it, but if we do win it, then it's another big game again.

"We have to win all the games, not just focus on tomorrow. But in saying that, we know how good New Zealand are playing at the moment. They are a big team in World Cups. They always seem to step up."

Unbeaten New Zealand are favourites to push South Africa towards the World Cup exit door and de Kock admits morale among Faf Du Plessis's squad has not been as high as he would like.

But he hopes the comprehensive victory against minnows Afghanistan will provide a much-needed spark in the nick of time. "I think before our first game that we played against England, we were in a pretty good space also then, mentally and with our preparation," he said.

"Then obviously, during the course of the tournament, obviously after losing all the time, there's always a bit of a slump in being mentally strong. Getting a win again has given us high hopes. It just becomes a mental game at a World Cup, trying to deal with all the pressures and stuff.

"We've put a lot of emphasis on our energy going into the games, and the situation we're in right now, our energy needs to be better than ever."

Feature image courtesy: AFP Photo/ Oli Scarff

New Zealand pace bowler Trent Boult has warned his side not to underestimate ‘hungry�?South Africa as their troubled opponents fight for World Cup survival on Wednesday.

The Black Caps will go top of the World Cup group table if they beat South Africa at Edgbaston.

But the Proteas, with just one win from five matches, know they cannot afford another defeat if they want to maintain their slender hopes of a semi-final place. "It's a must-win in their tournament," Boult said. "We're looking forward to facing them and I am sure they are eager and hungry to put in a good performance, because it's a big one for them."

The stakes are not as high as in their meetings at the past two World Cups, with New Zealand winning the quarter-final clash in 2011 and a semi-final showdown in 2015.

Boult has fond memories of New Zealand's run to the World Cup final four years ago and hopes his team can make another strong showing in the current edition.

"There have always been exciting games between New Zealand and South Africa over the past World Cups, and the last time that we met each other in 2015, the semi-final at Eden Park, was one of the greatest games that the Kiwis have played," he said.

"It obviously got a lot of attention back home and it was a cool one to be a part of. It's a chance for us to go out there and perform and show we can bring the game and the style that we play back home in New Zealand very well, to test it against quality players in foreign conditions on a big stage, so we can't wait."

Unbeaten New Zealand have defeated Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Afghanistan so far in the tournament, with their game against India washed out.

The impressive form of Boult and his fellow pace bowlers Matthew Henry and Lockie Ferguson has been key to each victory. "As a unit we've been going really well. With the ball, we've put it where we wanted and we've put a lot of pressure on the teams that we've come up against," Boult said.

"If we can continue to do it as a unit and obviously give us some lower totals to chase, then I will be happy. I think we've been lucky enough to be on a couple of new surfaces that have offered a lot to our style of bowling."

Feature image courtesy: AFP Photo/ Oli Scarff