New Zealand dump South Africa to reach semis

DHAKA: The reputation of South Africa as the perennial chokers cricket returned to haunt New Zealand snatched a dramatic 49-run victory on Friday to qualify for the World Cup semifinals.
The black hats, limited to 221-8 after taking the first strike, grouped into South Africa for 172 in an exciting finish before 23,000 fans at the stadium Sher-e-Bangla.
Jacob Oram was New Zealand man of the match with four wickets and two catches, while off-spinner Nathan McCullum sealed the fate of the Proteas, with three of 24 from 10 overs.
Skipper Graeme Smith (28) and Jacques Kallis (47) put on 61, South Africa moved to 108-2 by the 24th over before the last eight wickets crashed for 64 tracks.
It will be the sixth appearance in New Zealand in the semi-finals, where they await the winners of Saturday's match between Sri Lanka and England in Colombo.
South Africa, often considered the best team never to have the World Cup, have now lost three semi-finals, two quarter-finals and once in the first round.
"There are no words to describe what I feel," said Smith.
"We just have to take it on the chin. It was a very disappointing evening. I thought we played pretty well and at 100 for 2, we were seated correctly, and then we lost too many wickets."
New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori praised the spirit of his team.
"Every single bowler stepped up today, and probably it was commissioning us through," said Vettori.
"Once we got 220, we knew we had to be aggressive. We knew it was a tricky wicket, and I knew he would be a game old-school one day."
Defending a modest total, New Zealand got a lucky break in the first over of the innings when Hashim Amla tried to cut a ball from Nathan McCullum.
The ball rebounded slightly wicket-keeper Brendon McCullum start to Daniel Vettori in the slips and the referee said Aleem Dar drummer after consulting the TV umpire.
Smith and Kallis rallied before the Proteas skipper off Oram to the point where substitute fielder Jamie How picked up a little catch in the top 15.
Kallis continued to advance towards his half-century, when, in an unusual rush of blood, he pulled seamer Tim Southee high deep mid-wicket when Oram took a power running.
New Zealand then claimed two wickets in an over to reduce South Africa to 121-5 in 28 hit overs.
JP Duminy was bowled by Nathan McCullum for three and AB de Villiers, who was 35, he even ran after a mix-up with Faf du Plessis.
The spot-on Oram tightended screws further upset when Johan Botha and Robin Peterson had fallen behind in successive overs.
Du Plessis struck 36 to the end, but slim hopes of South Africa ended when he broke Oram in the covers.
Sleeve New Zealand had turned around burly left-hander Jesse Ryder, who has finally hit the World Cup as a fluid 83.
Ryder, whose best previous score in six innings in the tournament was 38 against Canada, hit eight boundaries.
Ryder put on 114 for the third wicket with Ross Taylor (43) after New Zealand were reduced to 16-2 by the sixth over.
New Zealand sat very 130-2 in the 33rd over when the Proteas bounced back with three wickets for 26 runs in six overs.
Kane Williamson struck from 38 overs slog unbeaten target for South Africa exceeded 200 runs under lights.
South Africa ploy to throw the ball to a new spinner again worked as a left arm Robin Peterson dismissed Brendon McCullum in his second over with a power back diving superb.
He was 15th stop Peterson in the tournament behind Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi (21) and the Indian seamer Zaheer Khan (17). - (AFP)