The Proteas kept their slim hopes of a semifinal spot alive with a thumping win over Afghanistan but can expect greater resistance from New Zealand.
The Black Caps are unbeaten in four matches but are yet to face opposition ranked above them in the ICC’s ODI rankings.
Cricket World Cup
Wednesday 19 June
Edgbaston, Birmingham
11:30
To Win Match
New Zealand 72/100
Tie 35/1
South Africa 23/20
New Zealand
The Black Caps coach John Stead claimed that his side drew no advantage from their rained-off contest against an India side who have made a phenomenal start to the tournament, but most pundits agree his side should be happy with taking a point from the fixture.
New Zealand have so far played well at the World Cup without setting the tournament on fire with their performances.
The Black Caps have completed three successful chases in the tournament so far but have not been asked to chase anything greater than the 245 Bangladesh set them to win on 5 June. Kane Williamson’s side blew past Sri Lanka in their opening game as the islanders collapsed in a heap, and chased down 173 in a rain-hit clash with Afghanistan.
New Zealand made heavy weather of that chase against Bangladesh but it is worth remembering that the Tigers put the Proteas to the sword earlier in the World Cup.
The Black Caps have put in strong bowling performances so far, led by Lockie Ferguson and Matt Henry who have split 15 wickets between them in the three matches New Zealand have completed.
Their top order has struggled with only four innings of more than fifty being notched while nobody has gone on to hit three figures.
South Africa
South Africa may have come good against Afghanistan but they are a long way from a glorious revival just yet and need to beat New Zealand to retain hope of a place in the last four.
Quinton de Kock looked good again in the modest chase against Afghanistan, but while they will be grateful for the boost their nine-wicket win gave their net run rate, more time out in the middle would have been a bonus.
Hashim Amla ended unbeaten on 41 over the weekend but there was less encouragement to be found from his stuttering display.
Imran Tahir has been the best of the bowlers in a Proteas attack that hasn’t given the greatest account of itself. Bowlers have struggled to bowl to their fields something that continued in the early exchanges against Afghanistan and catches continue to go down at an alarming rate.
The Proteas have met New Zealand at Edgbaston before, in the 1999 World Cup, winning that contest by 74 runs.
Verdict: New Zealand 72/100
This should be a fairly even contest but under pressure, the Proteas have failed to produce the goods of late.
