New Delhi: In form Darren Bravo teamed up with Devon Smith is rescuing the West Indies after they lost opener Chris Gayle, who fell in Graeme Smith’s Johan Botha-trap, here at the Feroz Shah Kotla Stadium on Thursday
Bravo has already cracked 8 fours and 1 six to reach his 64 in 66 balls and looks focused on a biggie here. Smith is rotating strike well and lending good support here to the man in the focus now.
Earlier, South Africa captain Graeme Smith elected to field after winning the toss, many cricket pundits foresee that call to backfire here at Kotla, and chose to start the attack with the combination of spin and pace in the form of Johan Botha and Dale Steyn.
Gayle went after an outside off stump ball from Botha and edged it to Kallis in the first slip. South Africa would be happy that they went in with three specialist spinners in Johan Botha, Robin Peterson and the uncapped Imran Tahir.
The West Indies has opted for only one specialist spinner in Sulieman Benn for the day-night clash. South Africa, three-time World Cup semi-finalists, have won their last 11 matches against the West Indies, champions in 1975 and 1979.
South Africa: Graeme Smith (C), Hashim Amla, Johan Botha, AB de Villiers, JP Duminy, Faf du Plessis, Jacques Kallis, Morne Morkel, Robin Peterson, Dale Steyn, Imran Tahir.
West Indies: Darren Sammy (C), Devon Thomas, Sulieman Benn, Darren Bravo, Dwayne Bravo, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Chris Gayle, Kieron Pollard, Kemar Roach, Ramnaresh Sarwan, Devon Smith.