03/04/26 07:41:00
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03/04 07:37 CST New Zealand wins toss, elects to field against South Africa in
Twenty20 World Cup semifinals
New Zealand wins toss, elects to field against South Africa in Twenty20 World
Cup semifinals
KOLKATA, India (AP) --- New Zealand won the toss Wednesday and elected to field
against 2024 runner-up South Africa in the first of the Twenty20 World Cup
semifinals.
South Africa is on seven-match winning streak in this tournament, including a
group-stage victory over New Zealand.
The New Zealanders, T20 World Cup finalists in 2021, had a nervy wait to
confirm their semifinal spot this time. They qualified on better net run-rate
than Pakistan, which only narrowly beat tournament co-host Sri Lanka in its
last Super Eight game.
New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner said "there's always a little bit of
pressure" in the knockout stages. Allrounder James Neesham, who was slotted to
bat at No. 8, returned to the playing XI and legspinner Ish Sodhi was left out.
South Africa skipper Aiden Markram said it was important for his team to start
well with the bat, with dew likely to make bowling difficult in the second half
of the game.
South Africa is at full-strength side with recalls for Kagiso Rabada, Marco
Jansen and Keshav Maharaj, who were all rested for the last Super Eight game
against Zimbabwe.
The second semifinal will be played between co-host India and England at Mumbai
on Thursday.
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Lineups:
South Africa: Aiden Markram (captain), Quinton de Kock, Ryan Rickelton, Dewald
Brevis, David Miller, Tristan Stubbs, Marco Jansen, Corbin Bosch, Kagiso
Rabada, Keshav Maharaj, Lungi Ngidi.
New Zealand: Tim Seifert, Finn Allen, Rachin Ravindra, Glenn Phillips, Daryl
Mitchell, Mark Chapman, Mitchell Santner (captain), James Neesham, Cole
McConchie, Matt Henry, Lockie Ferguson
___
AP cricket: https://apnews.com/hub/cricket
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