Kolkata, March 4 (NationPress) New Zealand's skipper, Mitchell Santner, expressed his satisfaction with his team's commanding performance in the Men's T20 World Cup semi-final against South Africa, labeling the nine-wicket victory as a 'highly gratifying' showing in a tense match. Finn Allen achieved the fastest century in T20 World Cup history, reaching his 100 off just 33 balls, leading New Zealand to chase down 170 runs with 43 balls remaining, securing their place in the final at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Sunday.

"It was certainly enjoyable. We were well aware of South Africa's strengths, which they have consistently demonstrated throughout the tournament. Thus, to deliver such a performance in a critical match is indeed very satisfying. Every time we face challenges or experience a loss, we learn from those moments. Winning also teaches us valuable lessons.

“We realized we hadn’t performed at our best during our previous encounter with them in the league stage in Ahmedabad, where they played exceptionally well, particularly on that pitch. Today’s lesson was about maintaining pressure on them for an extended period.

“We opted to introduce more spin early on, unlike in our previous match in Ahmedabad. If you can take wickets consistently, it certainly adds to the batting team's challenge,” Santner stated during the post-match presentation.

New Zealand successfully limited South Africa to 169/8, with Cole McConchie and Rachin Ravindra each claiming two wickets. “We had a strategy for the initial overs, but after that, it was somewhat unpredictable. With several right-handers at the crease, we anticipated that spin might create additional challenges. However, even when the ball is in the right spot, it can still be hit hard,” he added.

“We aimed to adjust our tactics due to the favorable conditions. The ground is small with a fast outfield, allowing us to consistently take wickets in the middle overs, although Stubbs and Jansen played brilliantly to push them to 170.”

When asked about watching the chase from the dugout, Santner said, “It was certainly enjoyable to observe. We were pleased with the target of 170, but as always, the early wickets pose a challenge. The openers played their game confidently, which was great to witness.

“An effective opening partnership during the powerplay undoubtedly puts you in a solid position. Finny (Allen) just continued his assault, and scoring 100 off 33 balls is impressive. It would be wonderful to replicate this in the final. However, each ground presents different challenges, such as the soil type and dimensions, which we must consider.

“So, while we celebrate tonight’s victory, we have a few days to strategize for what lies ahead. Overall, it was a commendable performance. I’ve mentioned before that we haven’t played a flawless game. I understand that’s often seen as a cliché, but we have excelled in phases, and today, I believe we performed well throughout,” he concluded.