South Africa shows how it's done
By Orin Davidson
Stabroek News
April 4, 2007
For West Indian fans hoping for a miracle yesterday South Africa ensured it did not happen in the fourth Super Eight game of the ICC CWC 2007 World Cup staged at the National Stadium at Providence
The world number-one ranked ODI team romped past Ireland with little fuss or bother to stay on track for a semi-final place while slowly closing the door on the home team.
One of the requirements for improving West Indies' chances of advancing is for South Africa, New Zealand and England to get themselves upset by the two remaining minnows Ireland and Bangladesh.
But it seems all of the shocks have been played out before the halfway stage of the competition.
Ireland will likely have to be content with the memory of their toppling of Pakistan as their lasting impression.
South Africa was not about to take any chances yesterday following their narrow escape against Sri Lanka and dutifully added their fourth point in the books with four games remaining for them in the Super Eight.
They bowled with controlled aggression and fielded like panthers against the Irish which resulted in them getting a run-target they were happy with.
The fact that rain intervened on three occasions and reduced the game to a 35-overs-a-side clash helped somewhat, as Ireland's batsmen went out of their way to hasten the scoring after Makhaya Ntini and Shaun Pollock strangled the innings in the initial stages.
Jeremy Bray seems to have left all his confidence at Sabina Park where he rattled up the competition's first century in Ireland's miracle win over Pakistan.
His second duck in succession dealt a solid blow to the top order which was held under such an intense stranglehold, they took almost 20 overs to score 63 runs at one stage.
Ireland's struggle was not made easier by a pitch that had enough bounce and carry to make the fast bowlers feel comfortable to pull out the choke.
Andrew Hall, normally only a medium pacer, proved it was a different surface to the one that Sri Lanka piled up 303 runs on two days prior.
He managed to unleash a wicked bouncer that accounted for Eoin Morgan after the others before him were unsettled by Ntini's pace and Pollock's brisk movement.
South Africa's intensity in the field which was missing from West Indies last Sunday and beyond, was high-lighted by Jacques Kallis' back-breaking catch that dismissed William Porterfield.
Even Ireland's Andrew White exhibited a measure of spirit with bold attacking measures that West Indies fans would've been happy with if their batsmen had done the same during their Power Plays.
At least it gave the surprising fair-sized crowd in the circumstances, something to cheer for, in light of rain and the heartache the home team is giving their fans.
But by the time Charl Langeveldt started enjoying the pitch, Ireland had no answer which left South Africa mere batting practice chasing a revised 163-run target.
Unlike Bray, Ireland's paceman Boyd Rankin has maintained his form which began in the game against Pakistan. Yesterday he removed A.B. de Villiers early and showed that a bowler can reap what he sows on the pitch by returning to fail Herschelle Gibbs also.
Kallis took his time in getting to 66 off 86 balls which should be of no comfort to South Africa's management as he seems stuck in first gear whenever he takes to the crease these days, even against minnows. Graeme Smith (41 off 45) and Ashwell Prince (47 off 44) showed how it should be done. But were it left to Kallis solely, the margin of victory might have been much less than 21 balls.