Windies Blown Away By South Africa

June 14, 2009

Windies Blown Away By South Africa

Everything was beautiful at the Oval; fine weather, a perfect pitch, ground filled to the brim with cheerful spectators; it seemed as if the stage was set for a wonderful T20 match. And that’s what we got; as South Africa took on the Windies. Once gain, the Proteas batsmen struck, as Jacques Kallis (45) and Graeme Smith (31) as they got the team to a wonderful start before Gibbs (55), helped them to 183-7. But the explosive start fizzled out in the end for the Proteas, as the middle order and tail-enders failed to capitalize, otherwise would have gotten them to a 200+ total, which would have put the Windies out of the game.

gibbs The Windies were in action, hardly 17 hours after their victory over India and hence the tiredness factor would have come into play. Gayle on winning the toss had no hesitation to send the Proteas to bat and it almost worked out as Jerome Taylor gave off only 2 runs from the opening over. But they got the scoreboard ticking as they raced to 50 in less than 6 overs. But after getting Smith off Benn’s delivery was caught off Fletcher at backward point. windies deserve credit for the way they plugged away and, after Taylor had splattered Albie Morkel’s stumps with a beautiful yorker, JP Duminy top-edged Fidel Edwards to Ramnaresh Sarwan at deep fine leg to fall for a golden duck. Moreover, they bowled brilliantly in the dead to reduce the Proteas to 183-7.

But as mentioned in my earlier articles, the S.A pace attack has been astonishing and they proved no less in this match too as they took the prize scalp of Gayle. But Parnell, a new find for the Proteas, continued to show his impressive form as he took Fletcher’s scalp too. But Bravo and Simmons steadied the innings, before Bravo and his replacement fell in quick contention. But Simmons kept up his cool but the required run rate crept upto 12/over as he reached his 50.

“To make 180 was a great effort batting first. We lost our way slightly but it was a good total to post as the West Indies have an experienced batting line-up and they like to chase,” said Smith.

“Lendl Simmons had a great knock but we fought hard and pulled them back. It’s great to have won six in a row in total. But there are still big matches to play.