Quinton de Kock looked determined to take South Africa home in a high-scoring encounter but rain had the final say in Thiruvananthapuram. Kane Williamson-led New Zealand won the warm-up encounter by just seven runs as per the Duckworth Lewis Stern (DLS) method.
Williamson won the toss and opted to bat first. Lungi Ngidi drew first blood with the wicket of Will Young (12). Devon Conway scored freely whereas Williamson took his time. He retired out after the 21st over. He scored 37 runs from 51 balls. After a few overs, Conway retired as well. He scored 78 runs from 73 balls including 11 fours and a six.
Tom Latham tackled the spinners well and scored 52 runs from 56 balls before losing his wicket to Marco Jansen. The left-arm pacer also got the wicket of Glenn Phillips who missed his half-century by seven runs. Ngidi returned to the attack and got the wickets of Mark Chapman and James Neesham. Daryl Mitchell contributed with a cameo of 16-ball 25. Jansen got his wicket in the final over but New Zealand posted 321/6 on the board.
In the run chase, Trent Boult made an early impact as he got Reeza Hendricks out lbw got a golden duck. De Kock and Rassie van der Dussen shared a 72-run partnership. Van der Dussen scored 51 runs from 56 balls. Left-arm spinner Mitchell Santner took his wicket in the 15th over. Stand-in skipper Aiden Markram failed to make a mark and departed for a run-a-ball 13. Leg-spinner Ish Sodhi got his wicket.
De Kock anchored the run chase. Heinrich Klaasen took on the spinners in the middle overs. Klaasen hit five fours and a six in his 37-ball 39. Boult came back into the attack. He bowled a short ball from around the wicket and Klaasen edged it to Latham. After the fourth wicket, De Kock and David Miller were looking to get a partnership going but rain interrupted play.
When rain played spoilsport, South Africa were 211/4 from 37 overs. They needed 111 runs from 78 balls and South Africa had six wickets in hand. De Kock remained unbeaten for 84 balls including 12 fours and a six. He missed his century as well as a chance to take the Proteas home.
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