44 Friday Sports Friday, June 21, 2019 South Africa lick their wounds after more world cup agony BIRMINGHAM: was left haven’t had that.” Inevitably, given their painful contemplating the ruins of another World Cup World Cup history, the question of whether campaign on the ground where South Africa ex- South Africa “choked” on Wednesday is bound perienced their greatest heartache in the com- to be asked. “Choking”, however, implies squan- petition 20 years ago. The Proteas’ hopes of dering a winning position, whereas this match in reaching the semi-finals in England and Wales Birmingham was more of a see-saw contest de- are all but over after a four- defeat by termined largely by Williamson’s knock. New Zealand on Wednesday. One minor consolation is that the recrimina- Stuttering campaign tions from Wednesday’s reverse at Edgbaston The New Zealand skipper is a world-class are unlikely to be as great as those at Warwick- batsman and the truth is that South Africa’s World shire’s headquarters 20 years ago when a disas- Cup campaign was in trouble long before this fix- trous run-out saw them tie with Australia and ture. Losing Dale Steyn without the veteran fast miss out on the final due to an inferior net run bowler delivering a ball at the tournament was rate. South Africa are still alive at the World Cup blow, but South Africa were gambling on the 35- but with just one win from six matches it would year-old recovering from a longstanding shoulder take an extraordinary combination of results to injury. Having tournament hosts England and an- see them into the semi-finals from a 10-team other highly fancied side in as two of their round-robin group phase. early opponents meant South Africa had a tough On Wednesday, South Africa fought hard to start and it was no surprise when they lost both get to 241 for six on a difficult pitch after losing of those matches. But what really derailed their the toss. And it so very nearly proved enough, campaign was a 21-run defeat by Bangladesh, with New Zealand needing a superbly paced where the Tigers piled up 330. 106 from captain and star batsman Kane Several South Africa batsmen got starts in Williamson to see them home with just three reply, including Du Plessis, who made 62, but no- balls to spare. Fans of AB de Villiers will argue body was able to play the major innings required. BIRMINGHAM: South Africa’s Lungi Ngidi (R) celerbates taking the wicket of New Zealand’s Colin de this proves the Proteas were wrong to refuse the The Proteas’ painful history at the World Cup is Grandhomme during the 2019 World Cup group stage match between New Zealand and South gifted batsman’s offer to come out of interna- littered with self-inflicted wounds. As well as the Africa at Edgbaston. — AFP tional retirement for the World Cup, but others 1999 run-out debacle, they exited in 2003 after will say the offer came far too late for it to be misunderstanding the rules governing rain-af- then made 76, got a thin edge off Imran Tahir to lost.” This World Cup could well mark the last accepted by South Africa’s selectors. fected matches, and made the controversial de- wicketkeeper Quinton de Kock. The Proteas did appearance at the global showpiece for players “Kane played a great knock, you know,” said cision to drop Kyle Abbott for what turned out not request a review, only for replays to show a in their mid-30s such as Du Plessis and Proteas Du Plessis. “It’s probably the difference between to be a nail-biting semi-final loss to New Zealand nick. “I think I was at long on at the time, and opener Hashim Amla, who never really got back the two sides, just one guy taking it through. four years ago. South Africa did not help them- Quinny is the closest to the action,” said Du to his best after being hit on the head by a “You need someone to go further, and we selves on Wednesday when Williamson, who had Plessis. “That’s not where the game was won and bouncer from England’s Jofra Archer. — AFP

Williamson is New bledon champion Federer. The two have Tsonga upbeat met only once on the surface, a grueling Zealand’s battle at Wimbledon in 2011, which Tsonga won after clawing back a two- ahead of his set deficit. “It’s true I have never lost to greatest ODI him on grass, but that is only because we Federer clash have only played once,” said Tsonga. “If player: Vettori we had played ten times, the roles would probably be reversed.” “It is a different HALLE WESTFALEN: French veteran situation now. I want to do well, but I MANCHESTER: Former New Zealand captain Daniel Jo-Wilfried Tsonga believes he has noth- coming back from a long way away.” Vettori has hailed Kane Williamson as New Zealand’s ing to lose against Roger Federer as he Once ranked number five in the greatest-ever one-day player after his match-win- continues along the comeback trail in the world, Tsonga now sits at 77th in the ning World Cup against South Africa. BIRMINGHAM: New Zealand’s captain Kane Williamson second round of the ATP tournament in ATP rankings, having slipped as low as Williamson made an unbeaten 106 to guide the Kiwis (C) reacts after scoring the winning runs to end the Halle. Tsonga, 34, missed seven months 210th after his injury. Tsonga told AFP he to a nervy four-wicket win with three balls to spare 2019 group stage match between of last season due to knee surgery, but was happy with his return to the tour this at Edgbaston on Wednesday as they maintained their New Zealand and South Africa at Edgbaston. — AFP has shown solid form this month upon his season, but that he still felt the effects of unbeaten record. return to grass court tennis for the first his spell on the sidelines. “I am still pay- With the Black Caps needing eight runs to win in Williamson paced his innings to perfection, hitting time since 2017. ing for it a bit after a whole year of not the rain-hit 49-over-a-side game, Williamson nine fours and a six in his 138-ball knock. “Kane has After reaching the second round in playing. It’s as if I actually retired last smashed paceman Andile Phehlukwayo for six to done so much in such a short period, whether a cap- Stuttgart last week, the Frenchman beat year,” he said. “But I am happy, there bring up his 12th ODI century and hit the next ball for tain or not, he’s been exceptional and he’s an absolute compatriot Benoit Paire in straight sets have been no catastrophes. Physically, I four to seal the victory. “Kane Williamson has to be joy to watch,” said Vettori. “He plays all the shots, he in Halle on Tuesday to set up a second am getting better and better each week.” New Zealand’s greatest ODI player of all time — and knows how to manipulate the strike and he’s always round fixture with Federer. “It is always Speaking after his own first-round vic- innings like that against South Africa tell you exactly going to run hard. special to play Federer, I will give every- tory against John Millman, Federer said why,” Vettori wrote in his column for the International “What differentiates him from a lot of batsmen in thing I’ve got,” Tsonga told AFP. “There he was happy to see Tsonga back on Cricket Council. this day and age is his sole focus is winning the game is less pressure than usual, because court. “We trained together in Miami a “He’s already there now and by the end of his ca- and he tailors his towards that.” Williamson, there is no shame in losing to Roger few weeks ago, and we get on well,” said reer his record will far exceed anything we’ve had in who made his ODI debut against India in 2010, aver- Federer. You have nothing to lose and the world number three. “Jo-Wilfried has the past or present, he really is that good.” New ages an impressive 47.36 in 143 matches. New everything to gain.” shown in the past that he can beat me. Zealand, the runners-up in 2015, were in trouble at Zealand, who play the West Indies on Saturday, top The Frenchman is one of the few Whether on hard court, clay or grass, he 137 for five in the 33rd over before Colin de Grand- the 10-team table in the World Cup round-robin players who can boast of a perfect is always dangerous.” “It’s a tough draw homme (60) joined skipper Williamson at the crease. phase, with four wins out of five matches. Their game record on grass against eight-time Wim- for the second round.” — AFP The pair put on 91 runs for the sixth wicket as against India was washed out. — AFP