South Africa crushed England by seven wickets, while injury-ravaged New Zealand eased past Ireland by 83 runs in the World Twenty20 Super Eights on Thursday.
Teenage left-arm seamer Wayne Parnell grabbed three wickets as England were shot out for 111 after Paul Collingwood elected to take first strike in good batting conditions at Trent Bridge.
The Proteas strolled their way toward surpassing the modest target, winning the game in the 19th over in front of a sell-out crowd of 18,000 to earn their first points in the second round.
PHOTO: AFP
“We performed well with the ball and everyone in the field played their role with intensity,” South Africa captain Graeme Smith said.
Collingwood said his team, who were defeated by minnows the Netherlands in the tournament opener, will have to regroup in time for Sunday’s clash with defending champions India at Lord’s.
“It’s been a real roller-coaster ride so far. Tonight we were beaten by a side who set an example in the field, there were diving catches and they put pressure on the batsmen,” Collingwood said.
England claimed Smith in the fourth over, caught behind off Stuart Broad, before Jacques Kallis and Herschelle Gibbs dug in to put on 74 for the second wicket.
Gibbs made run-a-ball 30 before he was bowled by off-spinner Graeme Smith, leaving Kallis to complete the formalities with 57 not out.
Owais Shah was the lone Englishman to withstand the Proteas’ onslaught with 38 off 33 balls after four of the top seven batsmen managed only four runs between them.
South African-born Kevin Pietersen was reduced to a brief cameo of 19 of the first 25 runs, before he was caught at mid-on by Roelof van der Merwe off Albie Morkel.
Late entrant Aaron Redmond proved his credentials as New Zealand thrashed hapless Ireland.
Redmond, drafted into the Black Caps squad on Wednesday night to replace the sick Jesse Ryder, made an immediate impact with a hurricane 63 off 30 balls.
New Zealand, sent in to bat on an even-paced wicket, rode on Redmond’s belligerence to pile up 198-5 before bowling the minnows out for 115 in 16.4 overs.
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