blockerdave
ICC Chairman
5th match saw the host Springboks (AI) looking to bounce back against the West Indian XI (me). The two sides had very contrasting experiences in their first matches.
South Africa won the toss and batted first, with Cook and Richards sharing another 50 partnership, though not without luck as Clarke seemed to have Richards caught behind early but it was turned down. Richards did go eventually for 37, with Kirsten following immediately after for just 1. But Pollock joined Cook and shared an 85 run stand in which they both passed 50. After they had both gone, a quick fire 53* from McEwan lifted the Springboks up to 234/5, a daunting score to chase. Croft was the best bowler with 3/35, and Clarke's 0/35 was scant reward for a threatening spell.
The West Indies reply was a strange one. Losing Chang in the second over, Greenidge and Kallicharan just couldn't get going scoring at 2 or 3 an over. When Le Roux and Jefferies finished their opening spell, however, there was a sudden acceleration with Van der Bijl and Watson being very expensive. Jefferies came back on, but after his first 3 overs went for just 10 his next 3 went for 34. A 2nd wicket stand of 60 and then contributions through the middle order kept the West Indies ahead of the rate and looking good, especially while captain Lawrence Rowe (47) was at the wicket. And then out of nowhere, the West Indies crumbled. Kirsten's offspin took 3/8 in 3 overs, while Kenny Watson, having gone 2/49 off 4 overs, came back for a second spell and too 3/16 to join Kirsten in blowing away the lower order and winning the game with a brilliant 5-fer.
The hosts up and running with a fine win, surely this will do the tournament the power of good.
South Africa won the toss and batted first, with Cook and Richards sharing another 50 partnership, though not without luck as Clarke seemed to have Richards caught behind early but it was turned down. Richards did go eventually for 37, with Kirsten following immediately after for just 1. But Pollock joined Cook and shared an 85 run stand in which they both passed 50. After they had both gone, a quick fire 53* from McEwan lifted the Springboks up to 234/5, a daunting score to chase. Croft was the best bowler with 3/35, and Clarke's 0/35 was scant reward for a threatening spell.
The West Indies reply was a strange one. Losing Chang in the second over, Greenidge and Kallicharan just couldn't get going scoring at 2 or 3 an over. When Le Roux and Jefferies finished their opening spell, however, there was a sudden acceleration with Van der Bijl and Watson being very expensive. Jefferies came back on, but after his first 3 overs went for just 10 his next 3 went for 34. A 2nd wicket stand of 60 and then contributions through the middle order kept the West Indies ahead of the rate and looking good, especially while captain Lawrence Rowe (47) was at the wicket. And then out of nowhere, the West Indies crumbled. Kirsten's offspin took 3/8 in 3 overs, while Kenny Watson, having gone 2/49 off 4 overs, came back for a second spell and too 3/16 to join Kirsten in blowing away the lower order and winning the game with a brilliant 5-fer.
The hosts up and running with a fine win, surely this will do the tournament the power of good.
