South Africa thrash New Zealand by 190 runs as Rassie van der Dussen and Quinton de Kock hit centuries, before Keshav Maharaj and Marco Jansen tear through Black Caps’ batting line-up

On the eve of this clash between South Africa and New Zealand in the sprawling city of Pune, Rassie van der Dussen spoke eloquently about the Proteas desire to emulate the Springboks Rugby World Cup success.

The Proteas batter spoke from his heart too as he described the range of challenges their squad had faced in recent years from Black Lives Matter to the Social Justice and Nation Building report and how they had all actually pulled the side together.

And then he let his bat do the talking in front of a packed house, smashing 133 off 118 deliveries after New Zealand’s Tom Latham had elected to field.

Van Der Dussen put on a 200-run partnership with Quinton de Kock, who scored his fourth century of the World Cup as they set the Black Caps a chase of 358.

A chase they never really had a chance of pulling off as Keshav Maharaj and Marco Jansen took seven wickets between them to bowl New Zealand out for 167 and seal a 190-run victory.

Rassie van der Dussen (pictured) and Quinton de Kock both hit tons as they posted 357-4

In response, Keshav Maharaj picked up four wickets as they bowled out New Zealand for 167

Remarkably, only the Netherlands have defeated Temba Bavuma’s side in this tournament and with six wins out of seven, South Africa’s clash against India at Eden Gardens in Kolkata on Sunday will be a battle between first and second. It promises to be a tantalising encounter between the two best sides in the tournament thus far.

‘There’s definitely something different in this team. Of course, when you’re in it, I suppose you just feel it,’ Van Der Dussen said in his pre-match press conference.

There is most certainly something different.

In Pune, they surpassed England’s World Cup record of 76 sixes in 11 matches during the 2019 World Cup. The Proteas have hit 82 maximums in seven games.

They have hammered Sri Lanka, Australia, England, Bangladesh and New Zealand and scored at least 300 whenever they have batted first.

The eight consecutive times they have hit 300+ whenever they have batted first is the longest streak ever in men’s ODI cricket.

And with a one-wicket win against Pakistan, they have shown that just like the Springboks they can win ugly too.

Already, they have had eight centuries at this year’s World Cup – a joint world record as it stands – and in De Kock, they have the only man to surpass 500 runs at this tournament.

With four individual centuries already, the 30-year-old is turning his last-ever ODI tournament into an exhibition tour around India.

And so they will head from west to east to face the hosts, brimming with confidence. Brimming with the belief they can go all the way despite having never won a World Cup.

‘You realise that there’s fans who’ve been really scarred by previous performances, and you can’t really criticise them for feeling that way. Criticism comes from a place of hurt, they’ve seen that movie before. But personally, and for most of the people in our squad and management team, we haven’t lived that. It’s not part of us as a team. It’s part of history. But it’s certainly not part of us as a team.’ Van Der Dussen insisted.

Not since 1999 had South Africa beaten Pakistan at a World Cup. On Friday night in Chennai, this team changed that.

De Kock continued his fine World Cup and he is the tournament’s only batter to pass 500 runs 

It was a dreadful day for New Zealand to leave their qualifying hopes hanging in the balance

Not since 1999 had South Africa beaten New Zealand at a World Cup. After five defeats, it was this team that ended that drought here.

Back in 1999, they fell agonisingly short of a maiden World Cup final after that infamous semi-final at Edgbaston against Australia.

But as Van Der Dussen articulated, this side hasn’t lived any of those experiences and they believe they can go the distance.

Time will tell – but right now, the men in green look capable of going all the way.