{"id":231341,"date":"2026-03-03T17:40:38","date_gmt":"2026-03-03T17:40:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2026\/03\/03\/we-back-ourselves-in-one-offs-black-caps-plan-revenge-against-south-africa\/"},"modified":"2026-03-03T17:40:38","modified_gmt":"2026-03-03T17:40:38","slug":"we-back-ourselves-in-one-offs-black-caps-plan-revenge-against-south-africa","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2026\/03\/03\/we-back-ourselves-in-one-offs-black-caps-plan-revenge-against-south-africa\/","title":{"rendered":"\u2018We back ourselves in one-offs\u2019: Black Caps plan revenge against South Africa"},"content":{"rendered":"

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I<\/span>n Colombo on Saturday New Zealand\u2019s players and staff gathered in small groups at various locations around the city. One assembled in a beachside bar overlooking the Laccadive Sea, where they shared snacks, nursed drinks and tried their best to engage in conversation while making furtive glances towards the big screen. There was another in the team hotel, crammed into the room of their captain, Mitchell Santner. All of them monitored Pakistan\u2019s game against Sri Lanka, and their pursuit of a victory that would enable them to pip the Black Caps to a place in the World Cup\u2019s final four.<\/p>\n

In the end Pakistan did win<\/a>, but not by the margin they required \u2013 and on Tuesday it was reported that the Pakistan Cricket Board had fined each player around \u00a313,500 as punishment, informing them that if they can accept rewards for good performances they \u201cmust also pay penalties for poor ones\u201d.<\/p>\n

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This time it was New Zealand who were rewarded for Pakistan\u2019s poor performances. \u201cIt was a pretty tough watch, pretty nervy at times,\u201d Santner said. \u201cI had a few other boys in my room and I had to leave because it was pretty tough. At every stage you just want to get through to the next stage and now it\u2019s the semi-finals, it\u2019s one game and you can potentially move on.\u201d<\/p>\n

Their next challenge is one over which they will have considerably more influence. On Wednesday they face South Africa, the World Cup\u2019s only unbeaten side, in Kolkata. The South Africans\u2019 six wins so far include a crushing victory against their semi-final opponents in the opening group stage, though they are refusing to accept that an overwhelming triumph in that game makes them overwhelming favourites for this one.<\/p>\n

\u201cI wish cricket was that easy,\u201d said Aiden Markram, the South Africa captain and the highest-scoring batter remaining in the competition. \u201cBoth teams have played a lot of cricket since then and it\u2019s a completely fresh start. I don\u2019t think it\u2019s as straightforward as being able to repeat that again. With regards to us being favourites or not, that\u2019s all different people\u2019s opinions.\u201d<\/p>\n

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\nQuick Guide<\/span><\/p>\n

New Zealand v South Africa possible teams<\/h4>\n

<\/svg><\/span>Show<\/span><\/span><\/summary>\n

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New Zealand<\/b> Tim Seifert (wk), Finn Allen, Rachin Ravindra, Glenn Phillips, Daryl Mitchell, Mark Chapman, Mitchell Santner (c), James Neesham, Matt Henry, Ish Sodhi, Lockie Ferguson.<\/p>\n

South Africa<\/b>\u00a0Aiden Markram (c), Quinton de Kock (wk), Ryan Rickelton, Dewald Brevis, David Miller, Tristan Stubbs, Marco Jansen, Corbin Bosch, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n