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The BLACKAPS came agonisingly close but lost their final group stage match against South Africa.
It was a world class bowling and fielding performance from the BLACKCAPS as they restricted South Africa to 128 for seven at Lord’s in London but some indifferent batting saw them fall two runs short.
The South African batsmen made a sold but cautious start putting on 49 for the first wicket with Jacques Kallis hitting 24 off 23 and Graeme Smith making 35 off 33.
JP Duminy was the only other batsman to make an impression striking 29 off 23 deliveries.
Ian Butler continued his fine form with be ball returning figures of two for 13 off his four overs with Nathan McCullum taking one for 18 off his full compliment.
The fielders backed up the attack with two run-outs including a direct hit from Brendon McCullum who is captaining the side in place of the injured Daniel Vettori.
The BLACKCAPS paid the price for a conservative start to their run chase leaving themselves 46 off the final five overs.
Brendon McCullum’s dismissal for 57 off 54 in the seventeenth over was the final nail leaving new batsmen Jacob Oram and Scott Styris too much to do.
It did go down to the wire with four runs required off the final ball but nineteen year old fast bowler Wayne Parnell held his nerve with Jacob Oram only able to make two.
The spin bowling of Roelof van der Merwe proved to be the difference with the incredible figures of two for 14 off his four overs including the wickets of Ross Taylor and McCullum.
Taylor, who made 22 off 31, required a runner after appearing to damage his hamstring when sprinting through for a run joining Daniel Vettori [shoulder], James Franklin [knee] and Jesse Ryder [groin] on the injured list.
The match has no bearing on the next stage with the BLACKCAPS through to the Super Eight’s where they will play Ireland on 10 June [UK time].
