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Untitled Document
 South Africa trample Scotland to reach Super Eights
21st Mar 2007 09:41 IST
Agencies
Graeme Smith led from the front with an incendiary 91-run knock as South Africa cruised to World Cup's Super Eight stage trampling Scotland by seven wickets with 26.4 overs to spare in a Group A match at Basseterre in St Kitts on Tuesday.
After mauling the minnows, South Africa now meet Australia in another crucial group A match on Saturday to determine which team would move to the Super Eight with two extra points in their pocket.
After they got a flying start, the South Africans maintained the tempo right till the end and needing five to win, Justin Kemp charged down the tracks to send the ball soaring over the stadium to seal the issue with a six.
Chasing a paltry winning target of 187, Smith and his opening partner AB de Villiers (62) looked in tremendous hurry as they unleashed unrelenting attack from both ends with the Scotland bowlers running for covers.
Smith took just 36 balls to complete his half-century, while de Villiers needed 41 and they ensured there was no let up in Scotland's misery after reaching their personal milestone.
Smith's blistering knock included 13 boundaries besides the six and he walked away with the Man of the Match award.
Earlier, riding on Dougie Brown's defiant unbeaten 45 and a late surge, Scotland posted 186/8, their highest World Cup score.
Pitted against world's number one ODI side, the Scots did not seem overawed by the reputation of their rivals and played well within their limitation.
The minnows scored 55 runs off the last five overs to push the score to 186, with Paul Hoffmann producing an 11-ball cameo of 18.
Brown, who has played nine ODIs for England, was the mainstay of the Scotland innings. He took 64 balls for a sedate unbeaten knock of 45, which included three hits to the fence.
Put in to bat, Scotland avoided early setbacks and the opening pair of Fraser Watts (24) and Majid Haq (13) were not really perturbed by the new-ball attack of Shaun Pollock and Makhaya Ntini.
For South Africa, change bowlers did the trick by removing the top order to leave the minnows in a spot of bother.
South Africa today replaced Andre Nel with Ntini, who missed the first game to be with his wife, who gave birth to a baby girl.
Scotland, missing regular captain Craig Wright, who had returned home to attend the funeral of a family member, were led by Ryan Watson. |
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