New Delhi: The West Indies are in trouble after Johan Botha struck again to bid adieu to in form Darren Bravo at 73 which then charged surprise package Imran Tahir to take off Devon Smith and Ramnaresh Sarwan here at the Feroz Shah Kotla Stadium on Thursday.
Bravo and Smith were working to rescue the West Indies after they lost opener Chris Gayle to a Botha trap. The second wicket partnership amassed a Nelson, 111, and fell apart.
With Bravo, Smith and Sarwan gone the West Indies looks in deep trouble at 125 for 4 in 29 overs. New men Shivnarine Chanderpaul and Dwayne Bravo will press the restart button for the Windies.
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.