#CWC15 day 14: #SAvWI

Before this encounter South Africa was stunned by India. While West Indies had comprehensive victory against Zimbabwe. After the loss against India, everyone was talking about South Africa's ability to chocke. So they wanted to clear the negative air around them. While West Indies wanted to carry on with the confidence they got against Zimbabwe.

Game 19: South Africa vs West Indies

South Africa won the toss and AB DeVilliers chose to bat first. Amla and DeKock began for South Africa. DeKock hit two fours to Taylor in the very first over of the match then the next two overs went maiden. South Africa got 6 and 4 runs from 4th and 5th over respectively. In the 6th over DeKock got out. That kind of start South Africa got in that match. DeKock's form has been concern for South Africa, he gets the confidence early on with the boundaries and just gives it away going for another boundary. Anyways Faf DuPlessis joined Hashim Amla in the middle. Amla and DuPlessis were knocking the ball around for ones and twos for quite sometime. They didn't wanted to loose too many wickets early. After 4th over next boundary of South African innings came in 15th over. Imagine the amount of patience both these batsmen showed.

100 of South African innings was up in 24th over. Both of them got their eye in by then and started playing shots after that. Amla brought up his 50 (off 75 balls), 100 run partnership came up between them and DuPlessis got to his 50 as well (off 59 balls). Everything was going South Africa's way at that moment. Holder brought Gayle into the attack in 28th over and that move turned out to be fruitful for him. Gayle struck with DuPlessis first by using his height to good effect. Not only DuPlessis he sent back Amla too in the same over. He bowled two wicket over and captain doesn't want anything more than that from part-timer. After that over Rossouw and DeVilliers got together and they kept the score board ticking for couple of overs. Then it was time to cut loose and Rossouw began it for South Africa. He hit consecutive boundaries to Sammy in 33rd over. He kept hitting it regularly then while DeVilliers was playing the game of ones and twos to settle down. DeVilliers started expressing himself in 38th over by hitting back to back fours to Holder. In midst of all this South Africa went past 200. In 39th over Rossouw brought up his 50 in style with a six. After seeing that six I was stunned. He was leaps up in the air and slaped rising delivery on the top of the bounce for a six. It showed the amounr of talent that man posses.

DeVilliers brought his 50 and South Africa's 250 in 40th over. Then there was no looking back for South Africa. South Africa was easily getting 10 an over after that. Russell got Rossouw then in 43rd over and it was the only over in last 10 in which South Africa didn't hit the boundary. After Rossouw's wicket, DeVilliers was in mood of no mercy. All those unorthodox flicks, inside out shots started flowing freely. He was about to get fastest hundered in world cup but got it in 52 balls. We were in middle of another remarkable innings from DeVilliers. He had some luck early on but he made most of the chances he got. South Africa touched the mark of 350 in 48th over. DeVilliers after getting to hundered became like a tornado which just got bigger and bigger after 100. He scored 66 runs off next 14 balls he played. South Africa ended up on the total of 408 at the end of 50th over. DeVilliers till now had fastest 50 and fastest 100 to his name and now he made fastest 150 too. He is just getting bigger and bigger with every innings he plays. I want to be his disciple for life. Again I would consider myself lucky to witness such innings of Guru AB.

After seeing such an innings from AB DeVilliers. I was expecting some fireworks from Gayle as well. Steyn bowled the first over and in the first over only he conceded 10 runs as Smith smacked him for a six on the last ball of the over. Abbott shared the second new ball with Steyn and straight away he got the wicket of Gayle. It was the best start South Africa could have got. Abbott in his first over got Gayle and in his second over he got Samuels. Samuels was just checking the line outside off and he edeged one staright into the hands of DeKock. Score was so big that it pushed Samuels to have a go at it. Abbott came into the team in place of Philander and he made most of that opportunity by sending both the centurions of last match back to the pavilion. West Indies was 16/2 when Samuels got out. Smith and Carter tried to rebuild but when the total to chase is 400+ it is not called rebuilding it is called surviving. Smith was dropped twice in 36 run partnership between Carter and him. At the score of 52, Carter hit one up in the air and DeVilliers took good catch running back.

West Indies was 52/3 and it was Tahir's turn to pick up a wicket. Tahir picked up Smith first as Smith was not being able to make most of the chances he got. Apart from Smith, Tahir got Simmons as well in the same over. It was a double wicket over. West Indies were in all sorts of trouble at 52/5. It was Ab DeVilliers show in the first innings but in second innings it was Tahir show. He just kept picking up wickets. After Smith and Simmons, he picked up Sammy and Russell in one over again. At that stage West Indies was 63/7 and to complete his five-for he sent Ramdin back to pavilion. For West Indies only Holder reached to his half century and it was his maiden 50 in ODI cricket. After that West Indies was bundled for 151. DeVilliers beat West Indies by 11 runs while South Africa beat them by 257 runs. It was much needed victory for South Africa to keep them going in this world cup.

West Indian bowling attack has to work hard if they want to do well in this tournament. In the last series against West Indies DeVilliers hit fastest 100 against them and this time he got fastest 150. AB De ki jai ho. After this match I am a devotee of Guru AB. I hope to improve my skills watching him play. On day 15 India will play UAE and Australia will play New Zealand.

#CWC15 day 15