South Africa ensured their challenged still remained alive after beating New Zealand by 5 wickets in their ICC Champions Trophy match at SuperSport Park in Centurion on Thursday

The intensity from the Proteas was visible immediately as they took the park and they knew they had to start well. The New Zealand bastmen were looking to put pressure on the South African bowlers but couldn’t execute that strategy due to tight bowling from Dale Steyn and Wayne Parnell.

That was backed up by a good spell from Jacques Kallis and New Zealand then went after Wayne Parnell. I thought Graeme Smith bowled Parnell for too long, when he could have used Albie Morkel, but as he often does, Parnell picked up wickets.

It meant the South African spinners could bowl to the middle order and New Zealand couldn’t get any momentum. Roelof van der Merwe in particular bowled extremely well.

The regular loss of wickets meant New Zealand couldn’t attack too much, and were saving their assault for the final 10 overs. Their power play started off well, but crucial wickets halted their innings which came up 20-30 runs short at 214 all out.

South Africa’s run chase started off with Graeme Smith leaving early, and Jacques Kallis coming out on the offensive. A 52 run stand between Kallis and Amla at a a decent rate laid the foundation for de Villiers to bat reasonably freely during the middle of the innings and guide South Africa home.

AB de Villiers scored an unbeaten 70 off 76 deliveries and struck the winning runs as South Africa reached their total with 53 balls remaining.

South Africa’s final match in the group stages of the competition is against England on Sunday at Centurion. They wil need to win to ensure they go through to the semi-finals, and New Zealand now need to hope they can beat Sri Lanka, or England can upset Sri Lanka if they are to progress.