Saudi-Japanese Business Council discusses strengthening investment partnerships    Tenth Saudi relief plane for Syrians arrives at Damascus airport    SR12.7 billion allocated for beneficiaries of Golden Handshake Program for 3 years    Energy minister unveils Saudi Arabia's plans to enrich and sell uranium    CEO Nasser: Saudi Aramco aims to increase energy production by 70%    Croatia's President Zoran Milanović re-elected by a landslide in run-off    Saudi Arabia offers new benefits to importers and exporters    Zelensky offers exchange of North Korean soldiers    South Korea's impeached president gets pay rise    Meghan Netflix show delayed over LA wildfires    LA fires death toll rises to 24 as high winds expected    Justice minister discusses ways to enhance cooperation with UN Resident Coordinator    Al Ittihad held to 1-1 draw by Al Fayha, lose Saudi League top spot    Al Orobah sign Saudi Pro League's all-time top scorer Omar Al Somah    Al Hilal thrash Al Orobah 5-0 to reclaim Roshn Saudi League top spot    Almarai successfully deploys SAP solutions to power strategic expansion Seamless implementation via RISE with SAP on Google Cloud supports company's SR18 billion growth plan    Al-Ahli defeats Al-Shabab 3-2 in Saudi Pro League thriller    SFDA warns of potential risks associated with high doses of Ginseng    Oscar nominations postponed because of LA fires    Islamic Arts Biennale 2025 to witness first-ever display of full kiswah of Kaaba outside Makkah city    Order vs. Morality: Lessons from New York's 1977 Blackout    India puts blockbuster Pakistani film on hold    The Vikings and the Islamic world    Filipino pilgrim's incredible evolution from an enemy of Islam to its staunch advocate    Exotic Taif Roses Simulation Performed at Taif Rose Festival    Asian shares mixed Tuesday    Weather Forecast for Tuesday    Saudi Tourism Authority Participates in Arabian Travel Market Exhibition in Dubai    Minister of Industry Announces 50 Investment Opportunities Worth over SAR 96 Billion in Machinery, Equipment Sector    HRH Crown Prince Offers Condolences to Crown Prince of Kuwait on Death of Sheikh Fawaz Salman Abdullah Al-Ali Al-Malek Al-Sabah    HRH Crown Prince Congratulates Santiago Peña on Winning Presidential Election in Paraguay    SDAIA Launches 1st Phase of 'Elevate Program' to Train 1,000 Women on Data, AI    41 Saudi Citizens and 171 Others from Brotherly and Friendly Countries Arrive in Saudi Arabia from Sudan    Saudi Arabia Hosts 1st Meeting of Arab Authorities Controlling Medicines    General Directorate of Narcotics Control Foils Attempt to Smuggle over 5 Million Amphetamine Pills    NAVI Javelins Crowned as Champions of Women's Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) Competitions    Saudi Karate Team Wins Four Medals in World Youth League Championship    Third Edition of FIFA Forward Program Kicks off in Riyadh    Evacuated from Sudan, 187 Nationals from Several Countries Arrive in Jeddah    SPA Documents Thajjud Prayer at Prophet's Mosque in Madinah    SFDA Recommends to Test Blood Sugar at Home Two or Three Hours after Meals    SFDA Offers Various Recommendations for Safe Food Frying    SFDA Provides Five Tips for Using Home Blood Pressure Monitor    SFDA: Instant Soup Contains Large Amounts of Salt    Mawani: New shipping service to connect Jubail Commercial Port to 11 global ports    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Delivers Speech to Pilgrims, Citizens, Residents and Muslims around the World    Sheikh Al-Issa in Arafah's Sermon: Allaah Blessed You by Making It Easy for You to Carry out This Obligation. Thus, Ensure Following the Guidance of Your Prophet    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques addresses citizens and all Muslims on the occasion of the Holy month of Ramadan    









Oram puts NZ in semis
Published in The Saudi Gazette on 26 - 03 - 2011

DHAKA: South Africa's reputation as cricket's perennial chokers returned to haunt them as New Zealand pulled off a dramatic 49-run win Friday to qualify for the World Cup semifinals.
The Black Caps, restricted to 221-8 after taking first strike, bundled out South Africa for 172 in an exciting finish in front of 23,000 fans at the Sher-e-Bangla stadium.
Jacob Oram was New Zealand's man of the match with four wickets and two catches, while off-spinner Nathan McCullum sealed the Proteas' fate with three for 24 from 10 overs. Skipper Graeme Smith (28) and Jacques Kallis (47) put on 61 as South Africa moved to 108-2 by the 24th over, before the last eight wickets crashed for 64 runs.
It will be New Zealand's sixth appearance in the semifinals, where it awaits the winner of Saturday's match between Sri Lanka and England in Colombo.
South Africa, often regarded as the best team never to have the World Cup, has now lost in three semifinals, two quarterfinals and once in the first round. “There are no words to describe how I feel,” said Smith. “We just have to take it on the chin. It was a very disappointing evening. I thought we bowled pretty well and at 100 for 2, we were sitting well, and then we lost too many wickets.”
New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori praised his team's spirit. “Every single bowler stepped up today, and probably it was the fielding that got us through,” said Vettori. “Once we got 220, we knew we had to be aggressive.”
New Zealand earned a lucky break in the first over of the innings when Hashim Amla tried to cut a ball from Nathan McCullum. The edged ball bounced off wicketkeeper Brendon McCullum's boot to Daniel Vettori in the slips and umpire Aleem Dar declared the batsman out after consulting the TV umpire.
Smith and Kallis rallied the Proteas before the skipper cut Oram to point where substitute fielder Jamie How picked up a low catch in the 15th over.
Kallis moved steadily toward his half-century when, in an uncharacteristic rush of blood, he pulled seamer Tim Southee high to deep mid-wicket where Oram took a running catch.
New Zealand then claimed two wickets in one over to reduce the rattled South Africans to 121-5 in 28 overs. J.P. Duminy was bowled by Nathan McCullum for three and A.B. de Villiers, who made 35, ran himself out after a mix-up with Faf du Plessis. The spot-on Oram tightened the screws further when he bowled Johan Botha and had Robin Peterson caught behind in successive overs. Du Plessis hit 36 at the end, but South Africa's slim hopes ended when he holed out in the covers off Oram.
New Zealand's innings had revolved around burly left-hander Jesse Ryder, who finally struck World Cup form with a fluent 83. Ryder hit eight boundaries. He put on 114 for the third wicket with Ross Taylor (43) after New Zealand was reduced to 16-2 by the sixth over. New Zealand was sitting pretty at 130-2 in the 33rd over when the Proteas bounced back with three wickets for 26 runs in six overs. Kane Williamson hit an unbeaten 38 in the slog overs to ensure South Africa's target exceeded 200 runs under lights. South Africa's ploy to throw the new ball to a spinner worked again as left-armer Robin Peterson dismissed Brendon McCullum in his second over with a superb diving return catch. It was Peterson's 15th wicket in the tournament behind only Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi (21) and Indian seamer Zaheer Khan (17).


Clic here to read the story from its source.