Proteas wilt under pressure again as Williamson shows what they’re missing

You know that feeling you get when the pressure gets to you and the butterflies in your stomach become demons and forces you to make errors you generally wouldn’t? That’s what happens to South Africa in World Cups, during pressure situations.

Instead of rising to the occasion, they crumble like poorly baked cookies, something you would probably choke on.

It was an all too familiar foe, New Zealand, a team that just goes about their business without much fuss and plays the game in the right spirit.

In no way are they the most talented team out there and their weaknesses are quite evident.

But with a dash of luck (the win against Bangladesh and the washed out game against India), the finalists of the 2015 World Cup find themselves at the top of the group stage table after five games.

But they do have one of the best captains and one of the best batsmen in world cricket in Kane Williamson, and he showed his class and leadership as he guided his team home.

South Africa have Faf du Plessis, someone who’s not as talented as Kane and someone who has been unable to lead with the bat when it has mattered most.

But despite scoring 241 in 49 overs, a total which Faf thought was “20-30 runs short”, the Proteas got themselves in a very good position as Chris Morris took two wickets in two overs and had New Zealand at 80/4.

Even at 137/5, South Africa could have and should have been able to win it.

They did bowl well, despite Colin de Grandhomme’s excellent counter-attack and they created chances to get rid of Williamson.

It was the 38th over in the game, the last over by Imran Tahir, whom the batsmen couldn’t really get easy runs off.

The first ball was looped up by Williamson and David Miller almost came close to catching it at mid-on.

The fourth ball was once again whacked, this time by de Grandhomme, but Miller leaped up and managed to get a hand to it, but it didn’t stick.

And then the final ball. Williamson tried to guide it to third man and the ball went to Quinton de Kock, who didn’t appeal, although Tahir was about to go on his trademark celebratory sprint.

The umpires were unmoved as replays showed that there was a nick and Willamson would have been out if South Africa had reviewed.

New Zealand would have still needed 69 from 66 balls and without their main batsman, South Africa would be considered favourites.

“Was that lbw out? I don't know. Which one is that. I don't know. Oooh the nick. Oh well. There was no real appeal. No real ‘let’s have a look at it’. So yeah, ask him [Imran Tahir],” a baffled du Plessis said at the post-match interview.

From then on, South Africa went on to miss a run out of Williamson, as Kagiso Rabada threw the ball at Miller, who was stationed at the stumps on the non-striker’s end, but failed to gather and break the wicket.

At that moment, the kiwis needed 58 off 54 balls and Williamson was on 77.

De Grandhomme then clobbered a few more boundaries to bring up his fifty before he gave another chance, but Miller once again misjudged it and so too did Rabada, who was backing up, and it went for a boundary.

These run out chances and catch drops were eerily reminiscent from their semi-final in 2015.

But then the best was saved for last by Williamson. With seven required to win off five balls, Williamson hit that Grant Elliot shot - a slog for six over cow-corner - against Andile Phehlukwayo to bring the scores level and reach his century as things came full circle.

He hit the winning runs and for three World Cups in a row, New Zealand beat South Africa from positions where they would have lost, if South Africa didn’t crumble.