New Zealand secured a spot in the T20 World Cup final after defeating South Africa by nine wickets in the first semi-final match held in Kolkata. South Africa's head coach, Shukri Conrad, described the team's heavy loss as a "decisive defeat" rather than a "choke," asserting that his squad lacked momentum and opportunity throughout the game.
Conrad acknowledged that the semi-final represented an inopportune time for South Africa to experience their first defeat of the tournament. He also dismissed the team having played most of its prior matches in Ahmedabad as a valid excuse for the Wednesday loss. New Zealand will now proceed to face the winner of the second semi-final between India and England in the final, scheduled for Sunday in Ahmedabad.
Source: https://indianexpress.com/article/sports/cricket/shukri-conrad-south-africa-loss-new-zealand-world-cup-semifinal-10565006/
