Today's Edition
Kuumar Shyam (Dubai)
New Zealand go into their Champions Trophy semi-final against South Africa in Lahore on Wednesday buoyed after beating the Proteas at the same venue on the way to winning a tri-series last month.
The Black Caps lost to India in their final Group A match on Sunday in Dubai but Tom Latham said it would have no bearing on the encounter for a place in the final. More relevant is that New Zealand chased down 305 against South Africa in Lahore after Kane Williamson scored 133 and also beat hosts Pakistan in the tri-series.
“We’re fortunate that we had a tri-series in Pakistan and against South Africa,” said the wicketkeeper Latham. “We’ve got a chance to look back on those experiences and give our best in a semi-final, which is pretty cool.”
Latham was counting on the positives given the fact that New Zealand had to travel to Dubai for playing the last group match and head back to Pakistan with very less time to prepare for their semi-final.
“We don’t decide the schedule and for us it’s about turning up at each game regardless of where it is and trying to play our best brand of cricket as best we can. Obviously it’s a chance at making an ICC final. We know there’s a lot of hard work to do to get to that point. We know how strong South Africa are,” said Latham.
Given the situation, even South Africa and Australia both travelled a day against of the India-New Zealand game in a risky move that did not pay off in the end for South Africa when New Zealand lost and finished second in Group A.
South Africa has topped Group B with two impressive wins and one match abandoned due to rain. The inaugural winners of the ICC Champions Trophy have always missed out at the business end of major tournaments on the world stage.
Former captain Herschelle Gibbs agreed that his compatriots are going strong. Yet, they need to find an extra gear going forward, a view Gibbs shared with Telecom Asia Sport.
While identifying Heinrich Klaasen, David Miller and Ryan Rickleton as key players for South Africa, Gibbs said: “The coach needs to use them differently. He needs to come up with different criteria or theories with regard to using these guys. I think it’s time for a different mindset and being more proactive, not being so predictable.”
Even Latham conceded that South Africa are coming in strong. “They’ve got all bases covered in terms of batting, bowling and in the field. As you look at it, I’m sure it’ll be a fantastic game.”
New Zealand’s fielding has been outstanding on their way to the semi-finals – Glenn Phillips took a spectacular one-handed flying catch at backward point to dismiss Virat Kohli on Sunday. “I think we’ve seen throughout the tournament some of the catches that the guys have been taking,” said Latham. “For us it’s an attitude thing.”
