The Proteas were up for the challenge this time though, with an in-form 15-member squad to choose from. Both the teams were under tremendous pressure, as on the one hand, it was an opportunity to get a spot in the semi-finals, while, on the other, a door to exit from the tournament.

New Zealand won the toss and elected to bat. They did not have the start they might have envisaged, with the openers falling within the first ten overs. Ryder and Ross Taylor took control of the situation thereafter. The two played a watchful inningsand managed to keep the South African spin attack at bay. After the batsmen had settled in, runs began to come more freely. Ross Taylor, who had hit the most number of sixes in the tournament so far, was on show today as well. He played some excellent shots. Taylor is also New Zealand’s highest run-scorer for the tournament.

South Africa began to feel the pressure as the 3rd wicket partnership crossed 100 runs. Imran Tahir, who has been a kind of revelation for South Africa this world cup, backed his reputation. He bagged the wicket of Taylor and later Ryder. New Zealand lost wickets in quick succession post that. Willamson tried to build on what the partnership had achieved but he soon found himself running out of partners. Morkel swiped the tailender wickets, bringing the Kiwis total to a barely competitive 221 from 50 overs.

A one-sided affair was expected from the game with the turn of events so far. But New Zealand went in for spin in their innings. Nathan McCullum bowled the first over. Results were seen immediately, with Amla, who had looked dangerous against India, falling in the first over itself. He got out in a freakish manner – the ball under-edged the bat, ricocheted off of the keeper’s foot and went on to hands of Vettori, who was standing at first slip.

Next man in was Jacques Kallis. Smith and Kallis stayed steady as houseboats, scoring runs freely undeterred by anything the Kiwi bowling attack had to offer. Kiwi shoulders began to drop as the Proteas cruised to 50 runs in 10 overs. However, Smith departed shortly after, giving away his wicket to a wide ball. De Villiers continued the momentum with Kallis and together they added another 50 to the team’s tally. Southee provided the turning point of the game. Kallis, looking to finish things of early, pulled a short ball of Southee’s bowling. The ball looked like it would go for a six but Oram was waiting there at deep midwicket. He grabbed on to the ball, giving the Kiwis the crucial breakthrough.

What followed was the fall of South African dreams and the rise of Kiwi aspirations. The newly returned captain Vettori brought in a sense of self belief in the players. They set an attacking field and did not let the opening batsmen settle down. South Africa went from 3-108 to 7-132 in a period of ten overs. History seemed to have taught nothing to the Proteas who seemed within reach of another defeat against the Kiwis. Du Plessis tried organising a fight back but it was a case of much too little and much too late for the task at hand. Another 70 runs were needed to cross the line.

South African supporters who were hanging on to the glimmer of hope Du Plessis was providing them were cheering every run. This too vanished with his fall. Among the New Zeland bowlers, Oram took 4 wickets and Nathan McCullum took a career best of 3-24.

Proteas were bowled out at 172 and with that ended their journey in the world cup. Many players of the team were disappointed, as this was possibly their last world cup. Kiwis were kicked about the comeback they had made.

Now it is going to be interesting to see who joins them in the semi-finals, Srilanka or England. Any guesses?

Match Summary:

New Zealand 221 (Ryder 83,Taylor 43,Morkel 3-43) beat South Africa 172 (Kallis 47,du Plessis 36, Oram 4-39) by 49 runs.

Man of the Match: Jacob Oram.

Tindill had become the oldest Test cricketer on November 8 2009, when he overtook Francis MacKinnon’s record of 98 years and 324 days. He played 69 first-class matches for Wellington and five Tests for New Zealand on either side of the Second World War. Tindill also went on to referee in rugby Tests and was an umpire in a cricket Test between New Zealand and England in Christchurch in 1959 alongside Jack Cowie, with whom Tindill had combined to dismiss Don Bradman in his only match against a New Zealand side.

A left-hand opening batsman and wicketkeeper, Tindill toured England with Curly Page’s team in 1937. On the way home, he had the distinction of catching Bradman off Jack Cowie’s bowling. The match, between New Zealand and South Australia, was played in Adelaide to help cover debts incurred in England. Cowie and Tindill were delighted with their prized wicket, but others reckoned they cost New Zealand Cricket a fortune. Bradman was dismissed for 11 in the opening over on a Saturday morning and thousands of spectators, queuing for entry, simply turned around and left.

Tindill also played football and table tennis for Wellington and after retirement he became secretary of the Wellington Cricket Association and a selector for both Wellington and New Zealand. He was inducted into New Zealand’s sports hall of fame in 1995.

“Eric was a great servant to sport in this country – and as a double All Black, reached the very pinnacle of sporting performance in this country,” Justin Vaughan, New Zealand Cricket chief executive, said. “His achievements as a player in many sports, umpire and referee, as well as other amazing deeds reads like a Boys Own story. We are unlikely to see the likes of Eric Tindill again, and he leaves behind a very special legacy.”

The oldest living Test cricketer now is former South Africa fast bowler Norman Gordon, aged 98 years and 361 days as of today.

Cairns’ name was taken off the list of players auctioned in January for the third Indian Premier League and Modi, on his twitter page, had stated that the Kiwi was removed “due to his past record in match fixing”.

Furious with Modi, the all-rounder had threatened legal action at that time but has initiated it only now.

“We are trying to have Modi served with papers. We’re going through that process in India but it takes time to get through the court system. We’re waiting for him, though,” the 39-year-old told New Zealand Herald. “If he decides to go to the UK, we’ll have him served there but it is so difficult to know his movements -especially with all the turmoil he’s embroiled in. It’s frustrating but we’ve initiated the process and just have to wait.”

Modi is himself facing allegations of corruption after a spectacular fall from grace but Cairns feels it still won’t be easy to corner the flamboyant administrator.

“It was going to be tough anyway when you do something like this but we are left with no option. We will continue to pursue justice, but at the moment, he’s also going through a process which needs to reach its conclusion before any judgement is passed,” he said. “We need to go through the proper channels to find out what to do next.”

Asked if Modi’s fall has left him feeling vindicated, Cairns said it doesn’t matter to him as he is focussed on getting himself cleared.

“I still have to go through this (to clear my name). There’s not much emotion or anything like that but it is sad I’ve had to go through this process. The opportunity is gone now. I’m finished. There was that one window of opportunity in the IPL when I was asked to put my name forward but I’m 40 in three weeks so reality dictates, even though a return was a romantic notion,” Cairns said.

Cairns, who got into diamond trade after finishing his cricket career, said he wants to give back to New Zealand cricket once the case against Modi is settled.

“Cricket’s not part of my life at the moment. It’d be great to help out in a New Zealand capacity one day but because of what has happened, I’m a bit of a poisoned chalice, really,” he said. “I’m a realist though and I’m not going to put people in a compromising position. Once this situation with Modi is sorted out, I’m more than happy to help.”

Sri Lanka cruised home with more than four overs to spare in a low-scoring encounter to draw the series and share the trophy with the Kiwis.

Fast bowler Nuwan Kulasekara tore through New Zealand’s top order, taking three wickets in the second over as he removed openers Brendon McCullum and Aaron Redmond along with Rob Nicol.

New Zealand found themselves at an embarrassing 13-5 at one stage. Daniel Vettori and Nathan McCullum were the only New Zealanders to reach double figures, but the 81 runs amassed by New Zealand was no challenge for Sri Lanka even on the slow, lifeless pitch.

Vettori’s 27 gave New Zealand a glimmer of hope, and Nathan McCullum’s 36 took their total to 81 before they were bowled out in the 18th over.

Mahela Jayawardene got Sri Lanka off to a flier with a 12-ball 17. Thissara Perera added 24 and Tillakaratne Dilshan overcame his struggles to find his timing for an unbeaten 33 as Sri Lanka reached home in 15.3 overs with 7 wickets in hand.

Sri Lanka had lost Saturday’s opening game of the series by 28 runs, which marked the first cricket series on US soil between two ICC full members.

Match Summary:

Sri Lanka 86 for 3 (Dilshan 33*, Perera 25) beat New Zealand 81 (N McCullum 36*, Vettori 27, Kulasekara 3-4, Malinga 3-12) by seven wickets

Man of the Match: Nuwan Kulasekara

Man of the Series: Daniel Vettori

Bond, who was part of New Zealand’s unsuccessful T20 World campaign in West Indies, had retired from test cricket in December last year because he felt that his body was not in a condition to handle the rigours of five-day cricket after a slew of injuries had kept him out of cricket for long and now, he has decided to hang up his boots completely, bringing an end to his career in the shorter formats as well.

Bond, who is considered by many as the greatest fast bowler produced by New Zealand since the great Sir Richard Hadlee, picked up five wickets at an average of 29 in the ongoing T20 World Cup in West Indies and the speedster said that he was unwilling to compromise the high standards he sets for himself just for the sake of prolonging his career.

Bond, who turns 35 next month, will leave the game nearly nine years after his international debut, with 259 victims across all formats for his country, and unlike most other players who have retired recently, Bond does not intend to continue in the Indian Premier League as well.

“I know the time is right for me to step down,” Bond said. “I have given it everything when playing for the Black Caps. I will miss the camaraderie because it has been a privilege to play along such a great bunch of guys who are so committed to do their best for New Zealand. Playing with pride for the Black Caps over the years has meant so much to me.”

“I dreamed of playing for New Zealand when I was six. The reality of what has unfolded was more than I could ever hope for and I have been extremely proud to represent New Zealand. I am going to miss a lot of this but I know now is the time to bow out. I am very keen at some stage to put something back into the game in New Zealand,” he said.

Bond told journalists after returning from the Twenty20 World Cup he was feeling his age since a one-day series against Australia in March.

“I just felt like I was starting to slow down. The body’s obviously been battered a bit and I suppose I’m coming up to 35. I noticed getting out of bed in the mornings, getting myself up for training is tougher,” he had said.

Bond’s career was plagued with injuries which meant that he played far fewer internationals than he or New Zealand would have liked, and he departs with 87 wickets at 22.09 in just 18 Tests, 147 at 20.88 in 82 ODIs, and 25 at 21.72 in 20 Twenty20 internationals.  Probably the biggest regret for him would be his absence from late 2007 until 2009 due to his ICL contract which deprived World Cricket of seeing one of the best fast bowlers of this era.

Bond joined the rebel Indian Cricket League (ICL) believing he had an understanding with New Zealand Cricket that he would be able to continue playing for his country. But he was subsequently banned when the ICL was declared an unauthorised competition. He returned to the national team last year and insisted on Friday there were no hard feelings over the episode. “I finish happy, no ill-feeling towards anyone. I’ve been very lucky during my career, I’ve had ups and downs but I look back with great pride.”

Despite his impressive record in a small number of Tests, Bond’s impact was felt as much in one-day cricket, where for a time he was the No. 1 ranked bowler in the world. The biggest high of Bond’s career came when he picked up 6 for 23 in a World Cup game against Australia in 2003, when Ricky Ponting’s men went through the tournament undefeated. A genuinely quick bowler, Bond took a one-day international hat-trick, also against the Australians, and helped New Zealand to a World Cup semi-final in 2007.

Daniel Vettori, the New Zealand captain, said that it was a huge loss for New Zealand cricket. “For me personally it is a big loss,” Vettori said. “I think he could still be a really good player for us for some time to come. But I know how much effort he puts in to stay on the park. He knows his body and he knows what he needs to do to prepare for international cricket. Sadly for us, he has decided his time has come to an end.”

Justin Vaughan, the chief executive of New Zealand Cricket, played against Bond in his final year for Auckland, when Bond was enjoying his first season for Canterbury in 1996-97. Vaughan said Bond would be a big loss for New Zealand.

“We shall all miss Shane in the international arena,” Vaughan said. “His speed and ability struck fear into batsmen from every team in world cricket. He has been a real match-winner. Shane has had an inspirational presence about him and has been a great role model for younger teammates. Shane will leave a huge gap that will be almost impossible to replace. We are saddened by his decision, but we support him and wish him all the best in his future.”

“It [the Bangalore bombing] definitely made me nervier. We went over there with the threat, I guess, but when that happened it became a reality,” Bond told the New Zealand Herald. “We [Kolkata] had one game left at that stage and knew we couldn’t qualify for the semifinals, so we just wanted to get out of there, really.”

Bond said more than himself, he was concerned about New Zealand team-mate Ross Taylor, who was at the Chinnaswamy Stadium at the time of the blasts. “I was nervous, but for him [Taylor] it was a different level.”

Bond played eight league games for Kolkata, taking nine wickets with an economy-rate of 7.22, and the Kiwi pacer said that he was satisfied with his effort. “It wasn’t too bad, I was pretty happy with the way I bowled,” he said. “I missed a few games in the middle, which was disappointing, but I came back pretty strongly in the last few games. I missed out at Bangalore for whatever reason and that was the quickest wicket we played on, so that was probably a mistake.”

Bond and his New Zealand and Kolkata team-mate Brendon McCullum did not stay back for the IPL closing ceremony and arrived in Christchurch on Wednesday night. They will soon fly to Brisbane before leaving for Guyana for the ICC World Twenty20 which begins on April 30. New Zealand are in Group B alone with Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe.

Ryder suffered an injury while playing for New Zealand in the Champions Trophy in September last year and missed most of New Zealand’s domestic season after having surgery to strengthen his abdominal wall.

He scored 103 from 109 balls for Wellington province last week in his first first-class match since his injury.

“We are excited about the side and believe that they will go well in the tournament,” New Zealand coach and selection panel spokesman Mark Greatbatch said. “We have a mix of players who are competitive on the world stage in the Twenty20 format. Obviously, we will need to be consistent with our performances and build momentum through pool play.”

Fast-bowler Daryl Tuffey and all-rounder Neil Broom were not considered for selection because of injury, while medium pacer Ian Butler, all-rounder Jacob Oram and batsman Aaron Redmond are returning from injury layoffs.

Canterbury batsman Rob Nicol is the only new face in the 15-man Kiwi squad. Greatbatch said Nicol had earned his international call-up after a strong domestic season. “Rob Nicol comes in to the side on the back of some very good domestic form, particularly in the shorter form of the game,” he said.

New Zealand will be based in Georgetown, Guyana during the pool stages of the World Cup which runs from April 27 to May 16.They have been placed in Group B with Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe.

New Zealand: Daniel Vettori (capt), Shane Bond, Ian Butler, Gareth Hopkins, Brendon McCullum, Nathan McCullum, Kyle Mills, Rob Nicol, Jacob Oram, Aaron Redmond, Jesse Ryder, Tim Southee, Scott Styris, Ross Taylor.

Ryder, who plays for the Royal Challengers Bangalore in the cash rich T20 league, is taking longer than expected to recover from his injury and his target is to be fit before the ICC Twenty20 World Cup in May, said General Manager of New Zealand Cricket, Geoff Allott.

“Jesse is understandably disappointed about not going to India for the IPL, but he is realistic about returning too early and aggravating his groin injury,” said Aaron Klee, manager of the cricketer. “He is better to be completely recovered and play a full tournament in the West Indies than risk rushing back to play IPL and jeopardising his involvement in both tournaments.”

Reiterating that Ryder would not rush a comeback and put national duty above everything else, Klee said, “He had a taste of the IPL last year and he certainly wants to earn his place in the 2011 tournament.”

“Jesse has his career in front of him and is well aware that when he gets back to full fitness, there will be plenty of opportunities to play in tournaments like the IPL, but the priority is always playing for the Black Caps,” he elaborated.

Ryder will miss the series against Bangladesh starting next week and is also likely to skip the upcoming Australia series.

Now, with Ryder being ruled out of the entire tournament, Royal Challengers Bangalore have a vacant slot which they can fill, even with Pakistani players.

Bond, 34, who came to limelight after some memorable performances in the 2003 World Cup in South Africa, had made a comeback to international cricket earlier this year after breaking his ties with the rebel Indian Cricket League. After giving a match winning performance in the first test against Pakistan at Dunedin last month, he was forced to miss the remaining two games of the series after tearing an abdominal muscle. Another injury setback, in what has been a career blighted by injuries on his back, feet and soft tissue issues, left him highly disappointed and disheartened, eventually prompting him to reassess his future as a test player.

“The hardest thing is that I’ve always considered myself a Test bowler – and it was such a great feeling to be back in the team last month and playing Test match cricket with the Blackcaps,” Bond said. “I’ve worked really hard to get back to Test match fitness – it’s what I’ve been working towards for the past two years – and I feel I gave as much as I could. But looking back, so many of my injuries have come during Test cricket. Unfortunately, my body just won’t let me continue to play at that level, given the workload and demands of Test cricket.”

“I don’t want to end on an injury and I am absolutely committed to playing for the Blackcaps. This way I hope I’ve got a better chance of continuing to play. I hope I’ll be able to continue to contribute to the team and to New Zealand cricket fans for a while yet. It’s been a tough call, because Test cricket remains the ultimate form of the game – but I’m comfortable I’ve made the right choice,” he added.

The fast bowler said that he is looking for a comeback in the ODI series against Australia in February, while adding that he would appear in a few club matches in January before playing for Canterbury in one-day games.

Justin Vaughan, the CEO of New Zealand Cricket, sympathised with Bond’s decision.

“Shane really showed his never-say-die attitude in his comeback this season, especially in the Test Match against Pakistan – and I know how tough this decision has been for him,” Vaughan said. “Of course we’re disappointed that he won’t be part of the Test line-up, but New Zealand Cricket supports his decision to focus on limited-overs cricket and hopes that this decision will prolong his international career. He remains one of the best fast bowlers in the international game and we’re delighted that he’s doing all he can to keep playing.”

Considered one of the fastest bowlers in world cricket since he made his debut in 2001, Bond has the distinction of being the quickest New Zealander to reach 50 wickets in Tests and ODIs. However, since his debut in 2001, he has managed to play only 18 Tests, taking 87 wickets, and 77 ODIs.

Stress-fractures to his feet and back forced him out of the game on innumerable occasions. After making a successful comeback against Zimbabwe in 2005, a knee injury ruled him out for nine months. He joined the ICL in 2007, for which he was banned from international cricket and got his New Zealand Cricket contract terminated. He made a comeback to the national squad earlier this year when the boards offered amnesty to its players if they quit the rebel T20 league.

He ends his Test career regarded by many as New Zealand’s best fast bowler since Sir Richard Hadlee. British commentator, Tony Grieg, once famously compared him to the legendary movie character James Bond which became a norm with most commentators addressing him as, “the name is Bond, Shane Bond!”