Twenty20 World Championship 2009

ICC T20 World Cup Group D: South Africa beat Scotland

South Africa laid down a marker with an utterly convincing 130-run win over Scotland in their ICC World Twenty20 Group D clash at The Oval that ended Scotland’s involvement in the tournament and confirmed South Africa’s presence in the second group stage.

Always too strong for qualifiers Scotland, South Africa piled up 211 for five before they bowled Scotland out for 81 in the 16th over to register the second highest margin of victory in Twenty20 Internationals. AB de Villiers played the starring role with the bat, scoring a stunning unbeaten 79 in 34 balls as South Africa became the first team to brek the 200 barrier in this tournament.

He smacked five fours and six sixes displaying the same sort of clean hitting that the crowd at The Oval had witnessed 24 hours earlier from Chris Gayle. The innings was first set up by openers Jacques Kallis (48) and Graeme Smith (31) scoring quick runs at the top, only losing their way when off-spinner Majid Haq removed both men in an excellent spell of two for two for 25.

He had Kallis bowled via an inside edge and Smith caught by wicket-keeper Colin Smith as he top-edged a sweep but South Africa kept their foot on the accelerator pedal. Herschelle Gibbs made a breezy 16 before he was stumped off Ryan Watson and Albie Morkel crashed 24 in 11 deliveries. Scotland’s fielding was at times abject, which allowed any pressure they had built up on the South Africans to be released but Kyle Coetzer pulled off a stunning catch to dismiss Mark Boucher (2), leaping high at long-on to take the ball above and behind his head.

Gordon Drummond was the bowler and he returned two for 40 but that catch was as good as it got for Scotland as they were then blown away by South Africa when it was their turn to bat. Dale Steyn (2-21) comprehensively bowled Watson (4) and Smith (0), captain Gavin Hamilton pulled Wayne Parnell to JP Duminy for five, and Navdeep Poonia ran himself out needlessly for a duck as Scotland limped to 13 for four in just the third over.

Kyle Coetzer showed some fight, hitting Steyn for a six into the stands at midwicket but Johan Botha ensured that Scotland were going nowhere by bowling Neil McCallum with a quicker ball and having Jan Stander trapped in front. Coetzer, still on a high from his catch, welcomed Albie Morkel to the bowling attack by hitting him for two big sixes over long on, strokes which delighted the crowd, ever-increasing in anticipation of the crucial England-Pakistan match. This was one rare occasion when English fans were cheering every Scottish boundary.

His fine effort of 42 in 31 balls came to an end when he spooned Roelof van der Merwe a long way up in the air, allowing the bowler plenty of time to steady himself under the ball and take a good catch. Van der Merwe was then on a hat-trick when Majid Haq (15) was bowled next ball trying to slog across the line but Glenn Rogers ensured that the left-arm spinner was unable to emulate Brett Lee by tucking the ball off his hips for a single as van der Merwe finished with two for 17.

Tags: Scotland, South Africa, t20 world cup