Thu, 24Feb 2011-South Africa vs West Indies World Cup 2011-7th match Group B - Bulletin

Devillers, Tahir help SA to thumping win

AB Devillers unbeaten run a ball century and a terrific spell of leg-spin bowling helped South Africa to fashion out a convincing 7 wicket victory over West Indies who were brilliant in patches in their first world cup Group B match played at Ferozshah Kotla Ground, Delhi.

After bowling out West Indies for 222 runs thanks to some good bowling performances from debutant leg-spinner Imran Tahir and Dale Steyn, Proteas finished the chase in a comfortable manner inside 43 overs led by a Devillers century.

Devillers, alongwith his captain Graeme Smith, resurrected the South African chase that was at one stage wobbling with team score of 20 runs at the loss of two wickets and then gave it finishing touch with the help of unbeaten 84 run 4th wicket partnership with another left hander JP Dumminy. He counterattacked in beginning of his innings by hitting some fabulous boundaries on both sides of the wicket.

He was imperious when he cut and pulled, elegant when he drove and quick between the wickets while taking singles and two. He brought up his fifty with a six and completed his hundred off 97 balls including eight fours and two sixes.

Smith who scratched to 45 played a perfect foil to AB’s aggression and both were involved in 118 run partnership which was ended by Kieran Pollard by castling Smith.

Smith’s wicket didn’t have any impact on AB’s progress as he shared unbeaten partnership with Duminy (42 runs) enough to take his side to a thumping win.

West Indian bowling got a big set-back with Dwayne Bravo leaving the field after bowling just thirteen deliveries as slipped on his follow through injuring his knee.

Darren Sammy took a leaf out of Smith’s captaincy by opening the bowling with left arm spin of Suleiman Benn but it was Roach who struck first by removing Amla getting him superbly caught behind.

Benn then got a big wicket of Kallis for 4 runs caught in the slips by Sammy giving Windies some hope but evaporated under Devillers’s heroics with low score to defending not helping either.

Earlier West Indies batting collapsed yet again as it lost the plot to get all-out for 222 runs against South Africa in their first world game played at Ferozshah Kotla after its top order had laid solid foundation for a big score.

Batting collapse was a combination of superb bowling spells from debutant leg-spinner Imran Tahir and speedster Dale Steyn aided by immature batting display by the West Indian lower order.

Mixing his conventional leg-breaks with googlies Pakistan born Imran got four wickets in three spells of leg-spin conceding just 41 runs in his ten overs and Steyn finishing the tail in a blink with figures of 3 for 24 runs.

Imran was instrumental in forcing the poor batting display by removing Devon Smith and Sarwan in his second spell and came back to remove Chanderpaul and Thomas in his third and last spell.

After losing Gayle in the first over to off-spin of Johan Botha, opener Devon Smith and Darren Bravo put a solid and aggressive second wicket partnership of 11 runs to put West Indies in command.

Junior Bravo was impressive in his 82 ball 73 innings, punctuated with eight fours and a six that was marked with some sweet drives and pull shots.

He was ably supported by patient Smith but both went in a quick succession followed by Sarwan leaving Caribbean side in trouble. Botha, who had removed Gayle by getting caught in slips, came back to break the partnership by trapping Darren Bravo and his good work was followed by taking two wickets.

It was left to senior batsmen Chanderpaul and Bravo, in particular, to lead the West Indian recovery with Bravo in dominating mood against spinners hitting three sixes off them in 37-ball 40.

His innings came to an end with team score reading at 178 runs thanks to a shocking piece of judgment from Shiv triggering the West Indian fall down.

Shiv, who looked good during his stay, also didn’t last long after Bravo’s run-out as he tried to go for a big shot off Tahir only to be caught at long-on.

Young wicket keeper batsman Thomas played a shocker off a shot trying to hot Tahir last ball of the spell out of ground but top-edged to a fielder inside the thirty yard circle.

Wicket kept falling like a pack of cards with Steyn removing much hyped Pollard for nought following it with wickets of Darren Sammy and Benn to complete the West Indian collapse.

Man of the match: AB Devillers (South Africa)

Devillers scores fifty to put SA in command

South Africa overcame a wobbly start to put themselves in a good position in their chase of victory target of 223 runs set by West Indies with score reading on 121 for the loss of two wickets at half way mark of the innings.

Proteas reply was inspired by a run ball undefeated by right handed batsman A B Devillers who alongwith opener and skipper Graeme Smith resurrected the chase after two of the top batsmen went for just 20 runs.

A B brought his half-century with a six and hit eight boundaries in his knock that has put Proteas in a commanding position.

While Devillers was aggressive in his approach, Smith was very circumspect in his approach to be right at the end of chase.

West Indies got a set-back in the field when their premier all-rounder Dwayne Bravo left the field after injuring his knee while slipping in his follow through.

Windies took a leaf out of Smi © eContent.in