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          South Africa pull off an anti-choke

          • Nitin SundarMar 24, 2014, 04:00 PM
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              Social media manager Nitin spent his formative years perfecting the art of landing the googly, before blossoming into a book-cricket specialist. More excellence followed in the underarm version of the game before, like the majority of India's misguided youth, he started taking studies seriously. After four forgettable years of electrical engineering, followed by a rigorous MBA and 16 months in the strategy consulting industry, he began to ponder life's more profound issues. Such as the angle made by Brian Lara's bat with the horizontal at the peak of his back-lift. A move to ESPNcricinfo followed and Nitin is now a prolific nurdler in office cricket, with a questionable technique against the short ball.

          It's hotting up in Group 1, with all the hair-raising contests.

          For the record, Imran Tahir wasn't singing along when the South African anthem played. South Africa started off poorly, losing Quinton de Kock, Faf du Plessis and AB de Villiers early. Enter JP Duminy.

          Amla's scratchy innings ended in bizarre fashion when he smashed Corey Anderson into Duminy's bat at the non-striker's end. The ball bobbed up for an easy return catch.

          But Duminy was in ominous touch. He smoked boundaries to all corners of the field, and unfurled some delightful strokes.

          Was it another poor day for the commentators?

          Yes.

          Duminy's daredevilry brought South Africa 109 in their last 10 overs. Target 171 for New Zealand.

          New Zealand's chase was propelled by Kane Williamson, and after an indifferent start, Martin Guptill.

          Morne Morkel had a ragged day, conceding 50 runs off his 3 overs. The bowling coach didn't seem to be enjoying it.

          But Dale Steyn had plans of his own. While his colleagues leaked runs to Williamson and a rampant Ross Taylor, he willed South Africa back into the game single-handedly.

          There are two Robert de Niro references in this report. That's how good Steyn was.

          Colin Munro's switch-hits hauled New Zealand closer to the target. South Africa's hopes were going down dramatically.

          Morne Morkel capped off his poor day with a 14-run 19th over that left Steyn just 7 to defend off the 20th.

          But Steyn was at an entirely different level today. He delivered a furiously fast over to pull South Africa through, as New Zealand bottled it against pace. It didn't help that Taylor was stuck at the wrong end for 5 balls.

          The Match award, inexplicably, went to Duminy.