Proteas hold nerve in thriller
South Africa withstood a late West Indies fight-back led by Darren Sammy to prevail by 17 runs in the second one-day international on Monday and take a 2-0 lead in the five-match series.
The South Africans appeared to be coasting to victory, when West Indies chasing 301 slumped to 236/8 in the 45th over.
But the Proteas came under attack from Sammy, whose unbeaten 58 from 24 balls contained two fours and six sixes, as he dominated a ninth-wicket stand of 47 with Ravi Rampaul.
South Africa were fortunate however, when medium pacer Ryan McLaren skillfully fielded a drive from Sammy on his follow-through, and Rampaul was run out off the last ball of the 48th over backing up too far.
Graeme Smith, the South African captain, had the privilege of finishing the match, when Kieron Pollard, running for Nikita Miller, was run out off the first ball of the next over with a direct hit at the bowler’s end from short cover.
Earlier, Hashim Amla continued his rich vein of form with 92, and Jacques Kallis supported with 85 to lead South Africa to 300/5 in 50 overs.
Amla struck seven boundaries from 95 balls, and Kallis — playing his 300th ODI — hit four fours from 89 balls in a stand of 79 for the second wicket, after the South Africans chose to bat.
— AFP
Scores: South Africa 300/5 in 50 overs (Amla 92, Kallis 85, de Villiers 41; Taylor 2/50) bt West Indies 283 in 48.1 overs (Bravo 74, Sammy 58 n.o., Richards 51; Morkel 3/58)
Post new comment