WI-SA: Bravo’s run out halts Windies’ charge
Agencies
New Delhi, 24 February 2011: Dwayne Bravo’s needless run out gave the South Africans a much needed breakthrough as the West Indies lost half their side in a Group B World Cup tie at Delhi on Thursday. Earlier, the Windies were four down against South Africa as Imran Tahir got his second wicket by trapping Ramnaresh Sarwan leg before wicket.
Dwayne Smith was caught and bowled by Imran Tahir as the West Indies lost their third wicket. Johan Botha picked up his second wicket of the match when he got rid of Darren Bravo, who scored a brilliant 73 off 82 balls and put West Indies in command after early loss of Chris Gayle.
Winning toss South African skipper Graeme Smith decided to ball first and his move to start with Johan Botha paid immediate dividends as he struck to remove Gayle in the third delivery of the match.
After that Devon Smith and Darren Bravo used the pace of fast bowlers and scored 44 runs in the first powerplay with some solid boundaries. Duo brought up fifty run stand between them with a beautiful boundary by Bravo in the mid-wicket region.
South Africans enter this Group B match on the back of 11 consecutive one-day wins against against West Indies and a 3-2 series victory over India at home. South Africa go in to this match with three spinners, Imran Tahir will be making his ODI debut.
Whereas West Indies will be banking on their top order and will be hoping that opener Chris Gayle gets them off to a flying start which will make the job of Shivnarine Chanderpaul and Ramnaresh Sarwan down the order a lot easier. Both the teams will be looking to get off to a winning start.
Teams:
South Africa: G Smith (c), H Amla, J Kallis, AB de Villiers, JP Duminy, F du Plessis, J Botha, RJ Peterson, M Morkel, D Steyn, Imran Tahir
West Indies: D Sammy, C Gayle, D Smith, D Bravo, R Sarwan, S Chanderpaul, D Bravo, K Pollard, D Thomas, K Roach, S Benn