New Zealand’s hopes of staying in the World Cup hang by the slenderest of threads after India won their Super Six clash by seven wickets at SuperSport Park in Centurion on Friday.
The Kiwis could still qualify for a berth in next week’s semi-finals, but only if Zimbabwe upset Sri Lanka in East London in one of Saturday’s two remaining Super Six matches. If Sri Lanka win or if the match is tied or washed out, the Sri Lankans will claim the last semi-final berth.
New Zealand slipped to defeat by way of a woeful batting display and a crucial dropped catch which, had it been taken, might have swung the outcome. With India on 22 for three, in reply to New Zealand’s 146, wicketkeeper Brendon McCullum spilled a straightforward chance from Rahul Dravid off the bowling of Shane Bond.
Bond had already taken the wickets of Virender Sehwag and Sourav Ganguly while India’s trump card, Sachin Tendulkar, had been caught in the gully off Daryl Tuffey.
Dravid, perhaps India’s most dependable batsman, had only a single to his name at that stage, but he rode his luck and, in harness with Mohammad Kaif, carried India to victory with an unbroken partnership of 129 for the fourth wicket. Dravid went on to make 53 not out while Kaif finished unbeaten on 68. Earlier, Zaheer Khan had rocked New Zealand back on their heels with wickets off the second and third balls of the innings after India had won the toss and elected to bat first.
Craig McMillan was caught at square leg and Nathan Astle trapped leg before to have New Zealand reeling at 0 for two, a position from which they never fully recovered. Stephen Fleming ground out a dogged 30, but there was little support from the middle order as New Zealand failed to bat out their 50 overs.
Zaheer emphasised the role played in this World Cup by the Indian fast bowlers with figures of four for 42 while off-spinner Harbhajan Singh took two for 28.
Also on Saturday, Australia meet Kenya at Kingsmead in Durban. Both teams have already qualified for the semi-finals.