New Zealand won their quarter-final with sturdy South Africa in Mirpur by their exceptional fielding recital; there were two vital moments when New Zealand seemed to qualify for next round. The first one was a brilliant running catch on the boundary by Jacob Oram that stunned Jacques Kallis while the other one was the run-out of AB de Villiers by Martin Guptil a few over later and just two balls after, JP Duminy dismissed.
Kallis was proceeding in his typical style on 47 in 25th over when he pulled a shot towards deep midwicket while facing Tim Southee. Jacob Oram rushed to his left and back towards the boundary rope, and with a little hop, held on to the catch face-high, still running. It seemed more exciting live action by Jacob Oram who attained the title of Player of Match for his 4 wickets for 39 and a brilliant catch. It was the kind of catch that wins the match.
Guptill's intrusion came from midwicket developing a tiny moment's hesitation between Faff du Plessis and de Villiers. Oram said, "The catch and Guptill's effort, which ruined the most fluent knock of the match, the moments that twisted the entire game".
There was an unrelenting level of excellence in the field throughout the match, from both sides. Daniel Vettori, the New Zealand skipper, expressed the fielding allowed them to keep the pressure up.
Another semi-final spot for a team that was stumbling until recently may have surprised others, but not Jacob Oram, who believes in the winning streak of Kiwis. He said, "Did we ever think we could qualify for the semis? Of course we did and we are not finishing here, hopefully. We did not come across here to defeat the pool teams and then lose the quarter-final and go home. Why not go on and win the semi-final and take on the winner of the other semi in Mumbai in a week".
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