Lahore [Pakistan], March 6: Temba Bavuma, the captain of South Africa, thought that they would have backed themselves to chase down the total against New Zealand in the present Champions Trophy if the target had been around 350. This was after they lost to New Zealand in another semi-final.

At the expense of Proteas’ hopes, New Zealand expertly crafted a 50-run win to secure their passage to Dubai, continuing South Africa’s unending obsession with elimination in the semi-finals.

New Zealand’s record 362/6, the greatest total in the tournament’s history, put the struggling South African team in a position to change the course of history.

Bavuma acknowledged that the Blackcapas’ blitzkrieg had exceeded the par total. He believed they would have “backed themselves” to pursue the score if they had been able to hold New Zealand to 350.

“I believe it was above average. We would have most likely backed ourselves to pursue the score if it had been 350. Today, we had a few of partnerships, but we wanted Rassie or myself to continue and do what two of their batters did. In the post-match presentation, Bavuma said, “They really put us under pressure from the beginning, the way they were able to pierce the off-side at the start and the way they played in the middle overs.”

On the strength of scorching hundreds from teenage prodigy Rachin Ravindra (108), and seasoned great Kane Williamson (102), New Zealand radiated supremacy with the bat.

The pair, who combined skill and experience, put up a 164-run partnership, which paved the way for Daryl Mitchell and Glenn Phillips to show off their power and lead the Kiwis to a record-breaking score.

Bravo to them, and kudos to their hitters, Williamson and Rachin, as well as the batters that entered the game, Phillips and Mitchell. Rassie and I were still batting at 125/1,” Bavuma said.

Bavuma and Rassie van der Dussen added 105 runs between them to keep the score tied as South Africa started their attempt to do the unimaginable.

Mitchell Santer, the captain of New Zealand, took the initiative to force the breakthrough since there were indications that the game would be decided by the last second. By outwitting Bavuma and unleashing the floodgates, Santner won the bragging rights in the battle of the captains.

Bavuma bemoaned his dismissal and believed that the Proteas might have changed the outcome to their advantage if they had acted more decisively at that time.

“We needed to be more decisive and not allow the opponent a chance to return and be merciless, as I said at the beginning when I indicated that we were 125/1. “We had to attend to the crucial moments in the game,” he said.

Regretfully, we were unable to provide them with that foundation. “We ultimately left too much for them,” he said, “a little soft dismissal for me and a better dismissal for Rassie.”