|
|
| April 26, 2007 | Thursday | Rabi-us-Sani 08, 1428 |
SA hit new low in spineless display
GROS ISLET (St Lucia), April 25: South Africa tumbled to their lowest total in a World Cup match on Wednesday when they were dismissed for 149 from 43.5 overs by defending champions Australia in the second semi-final.
South Africa's previous lowest total was 184 in their upset loss to Bangladesh in this year's Super Eights. The winners will meet Sri Lanka in the final in Barbados on Saturday.
Justin Kemp top-scored with an unbeaten 49 from 91 balls while Herschelle Gibbs, who looked fortunate to survive an appeal for caught behind after scoring four, reached 39.
The remainder of the batting succumbed meekly to a combination of excellent pace bowling and culpably loose shots with Shaun Tait taking four for 39 and Glenn McGrath three for 18 to regain his place at the top of the tournament's wicket-taking list.Captain Graeme Smith was first to go, bowled by Nathan Bracken after an ugly heave across the line intended to sail over the covers. The delivery from left-hander to left-hander moved away in the air to clip the off-stump.
South Africa's senior batsman Jacques Kallis made room to drive McGrath but was bowled next ball for five trying to cut a delivery far too full for the shot.
Ponting introduced Shaun Tait in the ninth over and A.B. de Villiers greeted the fast bowler by pulling the first ball fiercely for four. Tait immediately worked up a high pace and with his fifth ball de Villiers was beaten for speed and caught behind by Adam Gilchrist for 15.
Ashwell Prince followed in the next over to McGrath, also caught behind, for a duck to yet another loose shot to a ball wide of the stumps and Mark Boucher was out next ball caught by Matthew Hayden at first slip.
Gibbs sliced Tait to third man for four and followed up with a lovely cover-drive for a second boundary.
In combination with Kemp he restored some order to the innings with Kemp hooking Shane Watson fiercely for six to bring up the 50 partnership.
Tait was recalled and Gibbs responded with a drive over covers for his sixth four but was then caught behind two balls later.
None of the tail-enders could stick around with Kemp, who got to within one run of his half-century when Watson bowled Charl Langeveldt for six to finish the innings.
| Scoreboard | |
| SOUTH AFRICA: | |
| G.C. Smith b Bracken | 2 |
| A.B. de Villiers c Gilchrist b Tait | 15 |
| J.H. Kallis b McGrath | 5 |
| H.H. Gibbs c Gilchrist b Tait | 39 |
| A.G. Prince c Gilchrist b McGrath | 0 |
| M.V. Boucher c Hayden b McGrath | 0 |
| J.M. Kemp not out | 49 |
| A.J. Hall c Gilchrist b Tait | 3 |
| S.M. Pollock c and b Pollock | 5 |
| A. Nel c Clarke b Tait | 8 |
| C.K. Langeveldt b Watson | 6 |
| EXTRAS (LB-4, W-13) | 17 |
| TOTAL (all out, 43.5 overs) | 149 |
| FALL OF WKTS: 1-7 (Smith, 2.3 ov), 2-12 (Kallis, 5.3 ov), 3-26 (de Villiers, 8.5 ov), 4-27 (Prince, 9.4 ov), 5-27 (Boucher, 9.5 ov), 6-87 (Gibbs, 22.5 ov), 7-97 (Hall, 26.1 ov), 8-103 (Pollock, 29.4 ov), 9-130 (Nel, 40.1 ov). | |
| BOWLING: Bracken 7-21-15-1, McGrath 8-1-18-3 (1w), Tait 10-0-39-4 (5w), Watson 8.5-0-49-1, Hogg 10-2-24-1 (3w). | |
| AUSTRALIA: A.C. Gilchrist, M.L. Hayden, R.T. Ponting, M.J. Clarke, A. Symonds, M.E.K. Hussey, S.R. Watson, G.B. Hogg, N.W. Bracken, S.W. Tait, G.D. McGrath. | |
| UMPIRES: Aleem Dar (Pakistan) and Steve Bucknor (West Indies). | |
| TV UMPIRE: Billy Bowden (New Zealand). | |
| MATCH REFEREE: J.J. Crowe (New Zealand).—Agencies | |
|
|
