Going into this match, South Africa have been the favourites not solely to beat New Zealand but additionally to finish their watch for a maiden T20 World Cup title.
The unbeaten Proteas had topped Group D, the so-called group of demise, earlier than brushing apart India and West Indies within the Tremendous 8s to guide their spot within the knockout phases with a match to spare.
The tag of favourites was one thing they have been more than pleased to put on, head coach Shukri Conrad mentioned on Wednesday, however over the course of 32.5 chastening overs, the reminiscences of Sydney in 1992, Kolkata in 1999, Melbourne in 2015 and Barbados in 2024 got here flooding again.
Their prime order, which included the third-highest run-scorer within the competitors in Markram, faltered for the second consecutive match, undone by spin as had occurred in opposition to Zimbabwe.
It was Sikandar Raza who accounted for his or her openers within the powerplay on Sunday.
In Kolkata, Cole McConchie struck with back-to-back deliveries within the second over as De Kock and Rickelton gifted routine catches to Lockie Ferguson and Allen, respectively, whereas Ravindra accounted for Markram and Miller: South Africa 77-4.
With the ball, tasked with defending a below-par 169, their bowlers have been torn aside, none extra so than the often dependable Jansen, who leaked 29 runs from his two powerplay overs.
Of the 12.5 overs New Zealand wanted to finish their speedy chase, solely three price fewer than 10 runs.
“To get to 170 was an awesome effort and we felt we had a sniff. However because it goes in T20 cricket, the powerplay acquired off to a flyer and it was onerous to drag again,” mentioned Markram.
“You give credit score to their openers to kill the sport like they did. A foul evening for us tonight.
“We now have to get again on the horse and put together for the longer term. It appears like a slap within the face and we should be higher as a workforce.”
South Africa have now misplaced three of their 4 males’s T20 World Cup semi-finals and 4 out of 5 knockout matches. Within the 50-over match, all 5 of their semi-final outings have led to defeat.
They may have damaged their duck with victory within the World Check Championship closing final June, however their popularity as chokers stays.
