West Indies fell to a crushing 257-run defeat to South Africa at the Cricket World Cup in Sydney.
South Africa amassed 408 for 5 on the back of a record-breaking 162 not out from AB De Villiers and it was a total that proved well beyond West Indies who were shot out for 151, which left them staring at the largest margin of defeat in World Cup history.
South Africa had a point to prove after their recent defeat to India and their batsmen made a circumspect start to the innings.
Quinton de Kock scratched around at the top of the order before falling to West Indies captain Jason Holder.
Hashim Amla and Faf du Plessis batted with authority after seeing off the new ball and built a platform with a 127-run partnership.
Both Amla and Du Plessis fell in quick succession, but their job had been done, which was to set up the innings for the final 20 overs.
But what was to follow could not have been predicted. A score in the region of 300 looked like it would be an acceptable total, but De Villiers, aided by Rilee Rossouw, ensured South Africa ended up with far more.
De Villiers enjoys batting against West Indies, he actually enjoys batting in general, and he blasted the ball all over the Sydney Cricket Ground.
AB de Villiers' favourite World Cup opponents? West Indies, of course #CWC15 http://ift.tt/1at2xME
— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) February 27, 2015 It was a quite blistering, savage assault on the West Indies bowling. Seventy-eight runs came off the final 18 balls, with De Villiers smashing 30 off the final over of the innings, from Holder—who went for 34 in his previous over, which admittedly contained a couple of no-balls.
De Villiers went past three figures with a six, and concluded the innings with a six, as he smashed 162 off 66 balls.
Like it was nothing! “@WillHillAus: Jerome Taylor - if you don't mind! #SAvWI https://t.co/KxwPEYWH1y”
— Mr. Perry (@MarlonPerry) February 27, 2015 One of the few bright spots for West Indies was a stunning catch on the boundary by Jerome Taylor to remove David Miller, but it could not rein in South Africa as De Villiers' stunning assault carried them to 408 for 5 and left West Indies with a mountain to climb.
Chasing such an imposing target meant the West Indies batsmen had to take chances.
Chris Gayle, who plundered a double century in his previous game, attempted to smash Kyle Abbott’s third ball of the match out of the park but did not pick the length and was clean bowled.
WICKET: Gayle is bowled by Abbott for 3. Watch the action on Sky Sports World Cup #CWC15 http://t.co/RtR0mUcZGh
— Sky Sports Cricket (@SkyCricket) February 27, 2015 Gayle’s shot set the tone, as his team-mates continued to go on the attack, but they continued to give their wickets away.
Marlon Samuels edged Abbott behind to De Kock, Jonathan Carter fell to a fine catch from that man De Villiers and Dwayne Smith picked out Miller on the fence.
Tahir celebrates after David Miller caught Smith off of his bowling #CWC15 #SAvWI #ProteaFire http://ift.tt/1MXSCxA
— Sahara News Network (@SNNreporter) February 27, 2015 Samuels, Carter and Smith could be forgiven as they fell in search of runs. That comment cannot apply to Lendl Simmons.
Simmons pushed forward to Imran Tahir and was given out lbw. Replays showed the batsman had got a huge inside edge before the ball struck him on the pad so should not have been given out. It was not a feather of an edge, it was a huge deflection and one batsmen know has happened. But, inexplicably, Simmons simply walked off rather than calling for a review.
West Indies have some big hitters in their lower order, but Darren Sammy and Andre Russell were both undone by the spin of Imran Tahir, who finished the innings with figures of 5 for 45.
Stumped! Tahir has 3-5 and @westindies are now 6-63 in the 18th over. LIVE: http://t.co/sBDAajuIeg #cwc15 #SAvWI http://ift.tt/184Xyjp
— cricket.com.au (@CricketAus) February 27, 2015 West Indies were never really in the match from the moment De Villiers stepped on the gas, but any outside hope disappeared with the departure of Russell.
Holder ensured West Indies avoided complete embarrassment with a belligerent 56, but it was a comprehensive victory for South Africa.
Having lost to Ireland earlier in the tournament, this heavy defeat leaves West Indies facing an uphill battle to reach the quarter finals.
For South Africa, they are back on track and a fit and firing De Villiers can carry them a long way in the tournament.
from Bleacher Report http://ift.tt/1BllU4K
via IFTTT February 27, 2015 at 02:21AM
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