South Africa beat Windies by 131 runs in 5th ODI

Wednesday, January 28, 2015 | 4:26 PM    

CENTURION, South Africa (CMC) – South Africa defeated West Indies by 131 runs, in the rain-hit fifth One-Day International at SuperSport Park here Wednesday.

Scores:

SOUTH AFRICA 361 for five off 42 overs (Hashim Amla 133, Rilee Rossouw 132, David Miller 23 not out; Andre Russell 3-85, Jason Holder 2-77)

WEST INDIES 230 off 37.4 overs (Marlon Samuels 50, Narsingh Deonarine 43, Denesh Ramdin 40, Dwayne Smith 31, Darren Sammy 27, Andre Russell 24; Wayne Parnell 4-42, Kyle Abbott 2-59)

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South Africa beat Windies by 131 runs in 5th ODI

South Africa rest big guns for final 2 ODIs against Windies

Friday, January 23, 2015 | 4:48 PM    

CAPE TOWN, South Africa (CMC) – South Africa will rest strike bowler Dale Steyn for the remainder of the last two One-Day Internationals against West Indies.

The hosts have already sewn up the five-match series, winning the first three matches by comprehensive margins.

Selectors will also rest in-form batsman Hashim Amla for the fourth ODI at St George’s Park on Sunday, while captain AB de Villiers will be relieved of the glove work for that match, and could be rested for the final game in Centurion next Wednesday.

“We want to play everybody that is in the squad so we will use these next two games as an opportunity for some of the fringe players to stake a claim and to put in some performances for us,” said Proteas coach Russell Domingo.

“It’s highly unlikely that AB will ‘keep for the next two games. I’m waiting to confirm with the selectors but my plan is for Morne van Wyk to ‘keep in the next game and then, in all likeliness, depending on approval from the medical committee, have Quinton de Kock playing the last game.”

De Kock is yet to feature in the series because of injury.

South Africa clinched the series last Wednesday when they trounced the Caribbean side by nine wickets in East London.

The victory followed on from a 61-run win in the opening ODI in Durban and a 148-run victory in Johannesburg in the second game.

Domingo said the series win was especially pleasing because of the pressure the side had come under on recent tours.

“We’re always happy to win the series. You can never take wins or series win in international cricket for granted so we have to be pleased with the way we have played and enjoy the moment. We are pretty happy with where we are at the moment,” Domingo explained.

“We have been under pressure all year. We have had some tough series so whether or not we are under pressure now or six months ago doesn’t matter too much for us. We have been under pressure in Australia, in Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe, so it’s not that important for me at this stage.”

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South Africa rest big guns for final 2 ODIs against Windies

Windies in crucial battle to avoid series defeat to South Africa

EAST LONDON, South Africa (CMC) — West Indies, facing a series defeat against South Africa, will attempt to strike back to keep their chances alive when both teams meet in the third of the five-match One-Day International (ODI) series at the Buffalo Park in East London today.

The West Indies will have to raise their game if they are to stop the South Africans from sealing the series with a win and two games in hand after they won the first couple of ODIs comfortably.

The Windies bowling attack is expected to particularly target the top three South Africa batsmen who have garnered most of their runs protecting a vulnerable middle order from exposure.

South Africa lost five wickets for 34 runs between the 40th and 48th over in the first ODI and still look shaky at number six and seven.

The pressure will be on senior middle-order batsman Marlon Samuels, who has been criticised for throwing his wicket away, to bat with more responsibility as the Caribbean side faces a series defeat.

The spotlight will also be on maverick opener Chris Gayle, who plundered the bowling in the T20 series, but whose flagging form will be a concern.

Gayle has not scored an ODI century in 14 matches, dating back to June 2013, and has only managed one fifty in that time.

Lendl Simmons, who is part of the World Cup squad, is nursing a finger injury but could be slotted into the team in place of Leon Johnson to bolster the batting.

The only other change that could be made is in the seam department where Jerome Taylor may be given a rest, while Sheldon Cotterell is given a chance.

Taylor has been expensive, giving away 145 runs in the last two matches and claiming just three wickets.

Some commentators believe conditions are ideal for West Indies to bounce back.

East London’s pitch is much slower than Johannesburg and the ball is expected to be slow in coming on to the bat with very little assistance for the pacers.

Late evening rain is also forecast which may hamper the second innings.

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Windies in crucial battle to avoid series defeat to South Africa

Clueless — Windies suffer humiliating nine-wicket defeat in 3rd ODI

EAST LONDON, South Africa (AFP) — On a pitch which captain Jason Holder admitted held no terrors, the West Indies collapsed to 122 all out and suffered a humiliating nine-wicket defeat in the third One-Day International against South Africa at Buffalo Park yesterday.

Marlon Samuels made 26, but no other West Indian batsmen reached 20 in a dismal performance on a good pitch.

Man of the Match South Africa’s Vernon Philander took two wickets inside the first two overs and finished with three for 27, while leg-spinner Imran Tahir claimed a career-best four for 28.

South Africa needed just 24.4 overs to complete a series-clinching win. Hashim Amla took his tally for the series to 280 runs with an unbeaten 61 not out, while Faf du Plessis made 51 not out.

It was another crushing defeat for the West Indies following a one-sided encounter in the second match in Johannesburg last Sunday, when South Africa made 439 for two on the way to winning by 148 runs.

“We batted poorly,” said Holder.

“The pitch was a little slow but there was nothing wrong with it.”

Holder said the senior players in the side had not yet performed as they should have done.

“We need to show pride in the last two games now,” he said.

It was no surprise that the West Indies batted first on a dry pitch which was expected to get slower and lower in the second half of the match, especially after the punishment their bowlers took when South Africa were sent in to bat in Johannesburg.

But the tourists were in trouble almost immediately and were unable to mount any substantial partnerships.

Philander had opening batsmen Dwayne Smith and Chris Gayle caught behind inside the first four overs, and fast bowler Dale Steyn followed up with the wickets of Narsingh Deonarine and Denesh Ramdin as the West Indies stumbled to 43 for four.

Samuels looked the one batsman capable of playing a major innings before he was caught on the long-off boundary off Tahir.

The South Africans were batting before the scheduled supper break and needed just an hour afterwards to secure the win.

Amla cruised to his 61 off 63 balls with nine fours, while Du Plessis profited from two dropped catches in making his runs off 71 balls.

South Africa fielded the same side for the third match in a row and captain AB de Villiers said it was an important win ahead of the World Cup next month.

“We’ve said that in the knockout stages of the World Cup you need to win three matches in a row and we’ve done that,” said de Villiers, who scored the fastest ever century in one day international cricket in the win last Sunday.

With the series secured, De Villiers said the remaining members of the World Cup squad would get an opportunity to play in the two remaining matches.

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Clueless — Windies suffer humiliating nine-wicket defeat in 3rd ODI

Cricket: South Africa beat Windies by 148 runs in 2nd ODI

Sunday, January 18, 2015 | 11:42 AM    

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa (CMC) – South Africa beat West Indies by 148 runs in the second One-Day International of the five-match series at the New Wanderers Stadium here Sunday.

Scores:

SOUTH AFRICA 439 for two off 50 overs (Hashim Amla 153, AB de Villiers 149, Rilee Roussouw 128; Andre Russell 1-78)

WEST INDIES 291 for seven off 50 overs (Dwayne Smith 64, Denesh Ramdin 57, Marlon Samuels 40, Jonathan Carter 40, Darren Sammy 25 not out, Jason Holder 21 not out; Morne Morkel 2-43, Vernon Philander 2-69)

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Cricket: South Africa beat Windies by 148 runs in 2nd ODI

Fired-up Windies aim for whitewash against SA

Tuesday, January 13, 2015 | 6:28 PM    

DURBAN, South Africa (CMC) — West Indies , hoping for clean sweep and South Africa, desperate for a reversal of fortunes in limited overs cricket, play each other in the third and final of their three-match T20 International series at Durban on Wednesday.

The Caribbean men, inspired by power hitting from fired-up Chris Gayle, has already clinched the series while the South Africans are keen to end their poor run in this form of the game.

The match is not expected to be a dead rubber as South Africa seek to rebound from a tough period in limited overs cricket after T20 and ODI series losses to Australia.

West Indies, on the other hand, have made a complete turn around and are likely to go all out for revenge after a test series loss in which they were mauled by the Proteas.

“It’s not often that a team that is ranked below a top team whitewashes them so that’s the focus,” said West Indies’ team manager Richie Richardson.

“We are not going to relax. We are saving the celebration for after the next match.”

While West Indies boast probably the most powerful batting line-up in T20 only Gayle and Marlon Samuels have been the main run scorers while the others are due for big scores.

Some attention is likely to focus on Kieron Pollard and Dwayne Bravo, who are among players with the last chance to make an impact in the series.

Pollard and Bravo have been left out of the West Indies squad for the world cup, an issue which has triggered a major debate in Caribbean as well as the cricket world.

With a hectic playing schedule ahead, Captain Darren Sammy is likely to announce a revamp team which could rest Gayle and include Andre Fletcher for Denesh Ramdin and Carlos Brathwaite for Jason Holder.

Justin Ontong will skipper South Africa, their third captain this year after Hashim Amla led in Tests and Faf du Plessis took over for the T20s.

“I don’t think we can play the way they play their cricket,” said Ontong.

“We have to look at our strengths and the way we go about our business. There was nothing wrong with the batting in both of the games. We just need more work on the bowling front.”

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Fired-up Windies aim for whitewash against SA

Five Windies players lose jobs in the IPL

MUMBAI, India (CMC) — West Indies Twenty20 captain Darren Sammy is among five Caribbean players released by their Indian Premier League (IPL) franchises ahead of the new season which bowls off next April.

The former Test skipper has been joined by pacers Ravi Rampaul, Jason Holder, Krishmar Santokie and Kevon Cooper, as players who will be seeking a new franchise for the upcoming IPL season.

Since his retirement from Test cricket earlier this year, Sammy has plied his trade extensively in the T20 leagues around the globe, playing for Sunrisers Hyderabad in India, Glamorgan in England and more recently, Titans in South Africa.

A big-hitting lower-order batsman, who bowls deceptive medium pace, Sammy is already a seasoned campaigner in the game’s shortest form, having already played 143 T20s.

However, he spent just two seasons with the Sunrisers franchise.

He and Holder, who has 52 T20s to his name, are among 10 players let go by Sunrisers.

Meanwhile, left-arm Santokie is among eight players released by giants Mumbai Indians, with Rampaul among seven let go by Royal Challengers Bangalore.

Cooper, meanwhile, will be on the hunt for a new club after spending the last three seasons with Rajasthan Royals.

He was this year reported in the IPL for having a suspect bowling action.

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Five Windies players lose jobs in the IPL

Proteas name World Cup squad on heels of Test win over Windies

CAPE TOWN, South Africa (AFP) — Injured wicketkeeper-batsman Quinton de Kock was yesterday named in South Africa’s squad for the World Cup in Australia and New Zealand next month.

De Kock, 22, a free-scoring left-handed opening batsman and capable wicketkeeper, tore ligaments in his right ankle while warming up during the first Test against the West Indies on December 19.

It was estimated that he could be out of action for between 10 and 12 weeks, which would probably mean his missing at least South Africa’s first two World Cup matches, against Zimbabwe on February 15 and India on February 22.

De Kock has become such a valuable member of the one-day side, with six centuries in his first 35 one-day internationals, that the selectors are willing to gamble on him recovering in time to play the team’s later pool games and in the knockout stages, with AB de Villiers taking the gloves in the interim.

World Cup regulations make provision for teams to name injured players and replace them before the tournament, or if they aggravate the injury at the tournament, provided a medical certificate is produced.

There are no major surprises in the squad, although there are two changes from the 15 that were beaten 4-1 in a series in Australia in November.

Left-handed batsman and off-spin bowler JP Duminy and left-arm spin bowler Aaron Phangiso return after missing the November tour because of injury.

All-rounder Ryan McLaren, the side’s leading wicket-taker in both 2013 and 2014, was dropped after a dramatic fall-off in form since suffering a broken arm against Australian fast bowler Mitchell Johnson in a Test match last season.

Robin Peterson, a veteran of three World Cups who replaced Phangiso in Australia, was also omitted.

South Africa’s challenge will be spearheaded by a strong batting line-up, in which De Villiers and Hashim Amla have outstanding records, while the powerful fast- bowling trio of Dale Steyn, Morne Morkel and Vernon Philander will be complemented by leg-spinner Imran Tahir, who has taken 47 wickets in 27 one-day internationals.

De Villiers said he was confident the right squad had been chosen.

“It’s a huge honour. I’m very confident. We know we have to keep our feet on the ground and work hard. It’s a huge tournament which we have never won before and we want to bring it home.”

In contrast to previous South African teams, there is a shortage of top-quality all-rounders.

Duminy is likely to be a key player, but batting all-rounder Farhaan Behardien and bowling all-rounder Wayne Parnell are not guaranteed places in the starting line-up.

The South Africa squad will play in a five-match one-day series against the West Indies, starting on January 16, with Morne van Wyk standing in as wicketkeeper in place of De Kock.

Squad — AB de Villiers (captain), Hashim Amla (vice-captain), Kyle Abbott, Farhaan Behardien, Quinton de Kock (wkt), JP Duminy, Faf du Plessis, Imran Tahir, David Miller, Morne Morkel, Wayne Parnell, Aaron Phangiso, Vernon Philander, Rilee Rossouw, Dale Steyn.

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Proteas name World Cup squad on heels of Test win over Windies

...Windies T20 captain fined for slow over rate

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa (CMC) — Captain Darren Sammy will part with 20 per cent of his match fee for West Indies’ slow over rate during Sunday’s second Twenty20 International at the Wanderers.

The fine was imposed by match referee Ranjan Madugalle after West Indies were deemed to be one over short at the cut-off time for the innings.

The Windies players were also fined ten per cent of their match fees for the offence.

Sammy accepted both the charge and the fine, negating the need for a formal hearing.

If West Indies breach the over-rate rule within the next 12 months, Sammy will be slapped with a one-match suspension.

West Indies pulled off the highest ever run chase in T20 Internationals on Sunday to beat South Africa by four wickets with four balls to spare.

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...Windies T20 captain fined for slow over rate

Windies eye improvement, series win

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa (CMC) — West Indies are keen to improve on their display in Cape Town and wrap up their three-match Twenty20 International series here today, when they face South Africa in the second game at the Wanderers.

The Caribbean side broke their losing slump coming out of the Test series by hammering the Proteas by four wickets in the opening T20I at Newlands on Friday.

However, captain Darren Sammy said his side would be taking nothing for granted as they chased victory again in an attempt to seal the series with a game to go.

“It will be a different venue and we have to start all over again. It is about wrapping up the series tomorrow so that on the 14th we can give the guys who missed out an opportunity to play,” Sammy said yesterday.

“It’s a new game. We know we’re playing South Africa, a good side, so we have to go out there and put in another display like we did in Cape Town and look to claim the series after the second game.”

Chasing 166 for victory, West Indies were inspired by fit-again opener Chris Gayle, who stunned South Africa with an assault that yielded a top score of 77 off just 31 deliveries.

He smashed five fours and eight sixes en route to the fastest T20 half-century by a West Indies player off just 17 balls.

“It was a good way to start the T20 series, our first match for the year. I think it was a clinical victory and even through it went to the last over which I thought it shouldn’t have, we will take that against the Proteas,” Sammy explained.

And improvements are what Sammy wants, both in the field and with the bat. When South Africa batted, the Windies had moments of lapses which allowed the hosts to recover from 33 for two in the fifth over and reach 165 for four.

In their turn at the crease, West Indies were cruising at 147 for two in the 16th over but lost four quick wickets for 17 runs in the space of 24 deliveries, to extend the game to the last over.

“Wanderers normally is a very, very good wicket. I think on average it is a 170-run wicket so the margin for error becomes even slimmer,” Sammy pointed out.

The game bowls off at 3:00 pm (9:00 am Eastern Caribbean time).

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Windies eye improvement, series win

Missed chances! - Elgar, du Plessis hurt Windies

PORT ELIZABETH, South Africa (CMC) — Three missed chances in the post-lunch session proved critical as West Indies were put to the sword by South Africa on the opening day of the Boxing Day second Test here yesterday.

Riding their luck, the hosts reached the close on 270 for two, thanks mainly to a third Test century from opener Dean Elgar and an unbeaten 99 from Faf du Plessis.

The pair’s second-wicket stand worth 179 formed the catalyst of the Proteas innings after they were put in to bat by the tourists at St George’s Park.

Elgar, a 27-year-old left-hander in only his 14th Test, survived a chance on 48 to stroke 121, an innings that consumed 239 balls, 5 1/2 hours and contained 18 fours.

Du Plessis, meanwhile, on the verge of his fourth three-figure score in Tests on 99, has so far faced 228 balls and struck 12 fours and two sixes.

He was partnered by captain Hashim Amla, unbeaten on 17, the pair having already posted 44 in an unbroken third-wicket stand.

West Indies handed a Test debut to left-arm seamer Kenroy Peters, called up as a late replacement for fast bowler Kemar Roach, who was ruled out of the series after picking up an ankle injury on the first day of the opening Test at Centurion last week.

The 32-year-old Peters finished with one for 44 after claiming Elgar in the final session.

Shannon Gabriel and Jason Holder were the two other changes made to the Windies squad. Gabriel took the other wicket to fall on a tough day for the visitors in the coastal city of Eastern Province.

Elgar and Alviro Petersen (17) capitalised on some pretty ordinary stuff from the Windies seamers in the morning session, to add 47 for the first wicket.

Petersen stroked Peters to the cover boundary off the last ball of the fourth over when the debutant overpitched and Elgar followed up next over, whipping a full toss from the ineffective Jerome Taylor to the ropes at mid-wicket.

They were scoring at nearly four runs an over when Gabriel struck with his fifth delivery on the stroke of the first hour, claiming Petersen to a catch at cover by Leon Johnson off a rank long hop.

Du Plessis was far from convincing early on, and both he and Elgar were forced to survive a testing spell from Holder especially, whose first spell yielded a mere seven runs from six overs.

Restricted to just 21 runs in the second hour, South Africa crawled to lunch on 68 for one, with Elgar on 35 and du Plessis, six.

However, as is now their wont, West Indies then squandered any momentum they had built up, with shabby fielding after the break.

Du Plessis suffered a let-off in the fourth over after lunch, put down on eight by Marlon Samuels, after slicing Taylor low to gully.

He celebrated his good luck by clearing the straight ropes with left-arm spinner Sulieman Benn before pulling Taylor to the square boundary.

Du Plessis continued to ride his good fortune, however, getting a leading edge through point on 22 off Taylor before surviving another chance when he edged to slip on 26 only for Devon Smith to muff the chance.

Off the very next ball, Benn could have accounted for Elgar when the batsman charged out of the crease and was deceived in flight. Captain Denesh Ramdin failed to gather the low take and Elgar escaped.

On 48 at the time, Elgar struck the last ball of the over back overhead for four, to reach his half-century off 127 deliveries.

Both batsmen then got stuck in. du Plessis slapped a wide Benn delivery through cover for four and drove to the mid-on boundary when Gabriel over-pitched, to be unbeaten on 42 at tea, accompanied by Elgar on 85, with South Africa on 157 for one.

After tea, Elgar inched closer to his landmark, driving Gabriel square for four to move into the 90s, while du Plessis gathered his half-century off 137 balls, with a leg-side boundary off Benn.

Elgar survived an anxious moment on 95 when an lbw appeal went against Benn and the subsequent review showed the delivery brushing leg stump.

He eventually reached his hundred with a boundary wide of gully off Taylor and then accelerated, reverse-sweeping Benn for four and cutting to the point boundary, in the lanky spinner’s 20th over.

Elgar got two more boundaries off an over from Peters before finally perishing, nicking one from the same bowler which shaped away slightly.

Amla then joined du Plessis to ensure South Africa ended the day on top.

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Missed chances! - Elgar, du Plessis hurt Windies

Windies eye sweep

DURBAN, South Africa (CMC)—  Captain Darren Sammy is hoping to rest several players for the third and final Twenty20 International here today with the series already wrapped up, but has impressed upon his unit the importance of making a clean sweep.

West Indies arrived here yesterday fresh from taking a winning 2-0 lead in the series, following a historic run chase which saw the Caribbean successfully overhaul a mammoth 231 for seven by South Africa, to win at Wanderers with four balls to spare.

Sammy said he would discuss with tour selectors and coach Stuart Williams the possibility of using a revamped team, especially considering the upcoming workload of a few players.

“I said to the guys after [Sunday’s] match, 3-0 in South Africa against South Africa sounds way better than 2-1,” Sammy said.

“Obviously Chris (Gayle) is our main T20 batsman and we have the one-dayers coming up and we know how crucial [but] how prone he is to injury. I think I had a conversation with him and Stuart and he wanted to play [on Sunday] so once we won the series, he could get some time to manage his body.”

Gayle was pivotal in the series win, hammering 77 off 31 balls in the opening game in Cape Town to steer West Indies to an uncomplicated four-wicket win. He returned at the Wanderers to blast 90 from 41 deliveries to set up another thrilling four-wicket verdict.

Sammy said he believed, however, there were strong players who could be called upon for the final game to ensure Windies sustained their winning momentum.

“We have guys like Carlos Brathwaite [who can come in]. To be fair, Jason (Holder) after the Test series looked a bit tired and we know he has the one-day captaincy to think about so Carlos Brathwaite could get his opportunity,” Sammy explained.

“And (Andre) Fletcher could also come in and keep after (Denesh) Ramdin had the Test series and have the one-dayers and the World Cup coming up.

“We will talk to the selectors and see if we can give the other guys a chance to play with the same mentality of going out and winning in Durban.”

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Windies eye sweep

Gayle blows hot on return to inspire Windies victory

CAPE TOWN, South Africa (CMC) — Explosive opener Chris Gayle announced his return to international cricket after nearly five months with a stunning half-century, but West Indies made a meal of their target before stumbling past South Africa by four wickets in the opening Twenty20 International of the three-match series here yesterday.

The 35-year-old left-hander, who has been sidelined in recent months by injury, slammed the fastest T20 half-century by a West Indies batsman en route to a top score of 77 off 31 balls, an innings which allowed the Caribbean side to chase down their target of 166, with only four deliveries remaining at Newlands.

Gayle belted five fours and eight whopping sixes, raising his 12th T20I half-century off a mere 17 balls to break Kieron Pollard’s record of the fastest fifty by a West Indies player, which had come off 20 deliveries.

Marlon Samuels chipped in with 41 off 37 balls and Dwayne Smith made a run-a-ball 20 in an uptempo opening stand of 78 off 37 balls with Gayle, to lay the foundation for the Windies victory bid.

However, as has become the norm, the Caribbean side needed to inject the now obligatory drama into what otherwise should have been a straightforward run chase, especially after Gayle’s fireworks paved the way.

Cruising at 147 for two in the 16th over, the Windies suddenly suffered an attack of nerves and lost four quick wickets for 17 runs in the space of 24 deliveries, to carry the game down to the last over.

Wicketkeeper Denesh Ramdin then top-edged a hook at fast bowler David Wiese to fall to a catch at long leg off the first ball, adding further worry to the West Indies camp but Pollard, who finished eight not out, smashed the next delivery to the mid-wicket ropes to end the contest.

Leg-spinner Imran Tahir was the best bowler on show with three for 28, while seamer Wayne Parnell took two for 39.

Earlier, Rilee Rossouw pounded an unbeaten 51 off 40 balls to steer South Africa to 165 for four off their 20 overs, after they opted to bat first.

Captain Faf du Plessis was brilliant in getting 38 off 20 balls, while shotgun David Miller was held to just 24 from 21 deliveries.

Left-arm seamer Sheldon Cottrell, who was handed the new ball, finished with two for 33 and bowled a great final over which cost just seven runs.

South Africa were handed a decent enough start of 30 by Morne van Wyk (17) and Reeza Hendricks (12), who managed to negotiate handy short spells from seamers Cottrell, Jason Holder and Andre Russell.

Van Wyk, especially, looked dangerous early on, whipping the third ball of the game from Cottrell over square leg for six, and following up with two boundaries on either side of the wicket in the third over bowled by Russell.

Cottrell got the breakthrough, however, trapping Hendricks lbw in the fifth over with a full length delivery which swung in and Holder followed up in the next over, having van Wyk neatly taken at slip by Gayle, to leave the Proteas on 33 for two.

However, Rossouw then anchored two partnerships to rally the hosts. He put on 46 for the third wicket with du Plessis and then added a further 48 for the fourth wicket with Miller.

Du Plessis accelerated the scoring, cracking five fours and two sixes before gifting his wicket by skying a Russell full toss to captain Darren Sammy at mid-off in the 10th over.

Rossouw, who hit five fours overall, and Miller, who found the boundary just once, then struggled to really lift the scoring as South Africa were held to 86 runs from their last 10 overs.

West Indies were three without loss after the first over with Gayle scratching around for three balls over a single run, but it masked the pyrotechnics to follow.

Seemingly awakened by a bouncer from fast bowler Kagiso Rabada that whistled passed his helmet in the second over, Gayle then sensationally launched the final two deliveries of the over for straight sixes.

He cleared long off with pacer Kyle Abbott in the next over and then ripped into the Rabada in the 19-year-old’s second over which gushed 17 runs.

Smith raised the Windies fifty off 26 balls with the first of two boundaries in the over from Wiese and then watched as Gayle savaged Parnell in the bowler’s first over – the sixth of the innings – which went for 23 runs.

Gayle brought up his half-century off the final ball of the over, carving Parnell to the cover point boundary.

Off the first ball of the next over – the first from Imran Tahir – Smith missed a reverse sweep and was lbw, but Gayle put on 36 for the second wicket with Samuels to keep West Indies on course for victory.

Gayle took a liking to Imran Tahir, punching the bowler over long off for six in his second over and then collecting two consecutive sixes in the spinner’s following over. However, Gayle perished off the fifth ball of the same over, brushing a reverse sweep behind.

Samuels, who hit five fours and a six, and Bravo added 33 off 26 balls for the third wicket but once Bravo fell to a catch at mid-wicket off a leading edge off Parnell, the Windies wobbled before eventually steadying themselves to take the series lead.

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Gayle blows hot on return to inspire Windies victory

Windies concede series with eight-wicket loss

CAPE TOWN, South Africa (CMC) — West Indies predictably slumped to their seventh straight series loss to South Africa when they went down by eight wickets on the final morning of the third Test at Newlands here yesterday.

Needing a miracle to prevent South Africa from reaching a paltry victory target of 124, West Indies never found such grace and the hosts strolled to a comfortable win ten minutes before lunch, to complete their fourth consecutive series win over their opponents on home soil.

The Proteas have now won 12 of the last 15 Tests against West Indies at home.

Opener Dean Elgar guided the Proteas home in the face of a disciplined West Indies bowling effort, top scoring with an unbeaten 60 while captain Hashim Amla finished on 38 not out.

The pair put on 73 in an unbroken third-wicket stand.

Left-arm spinner Sulieman Benn took both wickets to fall in the innings to finish with two for 24 from 17 overs.

Resuming the day on nine for one, South Africa lost Faf du Plessis for 14 on the stroke of the first hour, caught at short backward point by Jermaine Blackwood.

However, Elgar and Amla ensured there were no further hiccups, with a solid stand that took any potential surprises out of the game.

Elgar faced 103 balls in just under 2-1/2 hours at the crease and struck seven fours and a six while Amla, predictably voted Man-of-the-Series, struck six fours off 49 balls.

Amla finished the series with 342 runs at an average of 114.

West Indies started the day strongly, keeping South Africa scoreless for seven straight overs as Benn and seamer Jerome Taylor hit their lengths early on.

Elgar, who unbeaten on five overnight, pulled Taylor for four in front of square to break the shackles but South Africa were content to be cautious as the Windies bowling remained accurate.

Fast bowler Jason Holder twice cut du Plessis in half with deliveries that jagged back off the seam, took the inside edge and went for fours but the tourists failed to find an early breakthrough.

Once again, Elgar lifted the pressure by clearing long on with Benn on the bowler’s ninth over before hammering Holder to the mid-wicket boundary a few overs later.

Benn was eventually rewarded for his persistence when he got one to jump for a length and take the shoulder of du Plessis’s bat, for Blackwood to run around from second slip and claim the catch at 51 for two.

However, that was to be the Windies’ last success. Elgar reached his half-century by gloving a pull over wicketkeeper Denesh Ramdin’s head for four as South Africa moved to 86 for two and with all hope diminished for West Indies, Amla then upped the scoring to add further misery.

In fact, 24 runs came from the last 16 balls of the game, and it was Amla who fittingly took South Africa over the line, hammering off-spinner Marlon Samuels through point for four.

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Windies concede series with eight-wicket loss

Wasteful Windies batsmen must do better, says Johnson

CENTURION, South Africa (CMC) — Rookie left-hander Leon Johnson yesterday lamented the West Indies’ wastefulness, after their batsmen wasted good starts to be knocked over cheaply on the third day of the opening Test against South Africa.

The top five batsmen all passed 20 but none managed to convert their innings into a major score as West Indies tumbled for 201 in their first innings, in reply to South Africa’s mammoth 552 for five declared.

Following on by 351 runs, the tourists battled to 76 for two at the close at SuperSport Park.

“It was frustrating because the first round batter got into the 30s, but no one carried on, but that’s just how it goes sometimes,” said the left-hander, who was among the offenders with 31 in an hour at the crease.

“I think come this innings we have got to set that right, we’ve got to get in and play very long innings.”

West Indies were given a good start by openers Devon Smith, who top-scored with 35, and Kraigg Brathwaite, who got 34, as they put on 71 for the first wicket.

They were both dismissed in the space of 13 balls with just one run added, but West Indies rallied to 162 for three before losing their last seven wickets for 39 runs.

Marlon Samuels chipped in with 33, while veteran left-hander Shiv Chanderpaul got 21.

“It is difficult to put the finger on exactly what it is, but if you bat a period of time and you get in and get yourself out, it’s probably a mental lapse somewhere along the line,” said Johnson, in only his second Test for West Indies.

“Smithy (Devon Smith) and Kraigg gave us a platform to launch from but unfortunately, as I said, the guys got in and then got out. It was very important they saw off the new ball as openers usually do, it’s just unfortunate we didn’t capitalise.”

Johnson was leading the Windies fight at the close, having occupied the crease for 73 balls and hit six fours in his unbeaten 33.

He put on a crucial 44 with Brathwaite (20) for the second wicket after Smith perished cheaply for five with the score on eight in the fourth over of the innings.

With West Indies still 275 runs behind, Johnson said it was critical the Caribbean side displayed their fighting spirit in order to save the Test.

“We’re [275 runs] behind and we have two days to go so obviously we have to fight hard, the guys have to dig in and bat for long periods,” he stressed.

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Wasteful Windies batsmen
must do better, says Johnson

Spotlight on lower order as Windies search for Newlands win

CAPE TOWN, South Africa (CMC) — With West Indies desperately needing a change in fortunes in order to win the final Test against South Africa starting here today, the spotlight has fallen on the side’s lower order.

The tourists enter the contest at Newlands trailing 1-0 in the three-Test series following a heavy innings and 220-run loss at Centurion and a rain-affected draw in Port Elizabeth earlier this week.

In the opening Test, the Windies batting was abysmal but 22-year-old opener Kraigg Brathwaite and seasoned campaigner Marlon Samuels restored some sense of pride in the second Test, when they fashioned high-quality hundreds.

Even then, they collapsed from 231 for two during the second session on the penultimate day, to 275 for nine, when rain forced an early close.

Captain Denesh Ramdin said his team was aware that the lower order needed to contribute more and were focused on doing this over the next five days.

“Marlon Samuels and Kraigg Brathwaite, the way they batted and the partnership, we’re extremely happy with the way they went about it,” Ramdin told reporters here on New Year’s Day.

“The South African bowlers bowled really well and they coped with it. We’re disappointed in the lower order that they did not capitalise on that start. But having said that, we improved from our first game going into the second so hopefully we can take from the second going into the third. It’s a new year so hopefully we can change some things.”

Ramdin is one of the culprits. He’s managed just 38 runs in three innings on tour and 43 in his last five innings. In his first series as skipper against New Zealand last June, he was guilty of getting starts but failing to carry on.

Veteran left-hander Shiv Chanderpaul is also short of runs. He failed to score in the tour match and has since scraped together 32 runs from three innings in the last two Tests.

Ramdin conceded that both he and Chanderpaul were under the microscope but stressed they would not be pressuring themselves.

“Our (team) confidence is building at the moment. We had a very slow start to the tour so hopefully we can continue to build that momentum,” he said.

“Myself and Shiv didn’t get runs in the last game but we’re not going to put ourselves under any pressure, we’re just going to continue to enjoy it, use our experience and contribute to the team.

“He (Chanderpaul) is enjoying his cricket still, sharing a lot in the meetings and around practice sessions. I’m sure he wants to get a big one come this game, once he gets a start.”

Overall, the Windies batting remains a big problem, especially the startling manner of their collapses. In Centurion, they were cruising at 162 for three in their first innings and were bowled out for 201.

In the second innings, they were on 87 for two and crashed to 131 all out.

There was no change in Port Elizabeth, as they lost seven wickets for 44 runs late on the fourth day to squander a position of strength.

“We’ve assessed that (collapses) and we had a bit of a chat about it, in terms of guys getting out and a couple wickets falling,” Ramdin explained.

“We always need someone at the crease to guide the new batter who is coming in and to share what’s happening. It’s always difficult to move on when there are two new batters there; it gives the opposition an upper hand on you.

“Hopefully we can get some better starts and our batters can go on.”

Despite the prevailing problems, Ramdin remained upbeat about the Windies chances, noting the team planned to take fresh guard for Newlands.

“We have some confidence from the last game but as I said, it is a new game so we have to start fresh. We have to refresh our minds on their batters, where we need to bowl at them, where we need to create our chances and stuff like that. It is going to be an exciting five days of this Test match.”

Squad – Denesh Ramdin (captain), Kraigg Brathwaite, Devon Smith, Marlon Samuels, Leon Johnson, Shiv Chanderpaul, Jermaine Blackwood, Jason Holder, Jerome Taylor, Kenroy Peters, Sheldon Cottrell, Shannon Gabriel, Chadwick Walton, Sulieman Benn.

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Spotlight on lower order as Windies search for Newlands win

Windies relying on openers to lead fightback

CENTURION, South Africa (CMC) — West Indies assistant manager Andre Coley says his openers will need to occupy the crease for a considerable period in mounting a serious fightback against South Africa when the first Test enters its third day today.

Coley is banking on a solid start from openers Kraigg Braithwaite and Devon Smith to help turn things around for the visitors after two miserable days in the field.

A double century from captain Hashim Amla and centuries from AB de Villiers and Stiaan van Zyl piled on the misery for the West Indies as the homeside soared to 552 for five declared just before tea.

“Kraigg has a history of spending a lot of time at the crease and that is something that we definitely will need in our first innings,” said Coley.

“Devon having played that warm-up game and also having that opportunity to also spend some quality time in the middle should be relishing the opportunity, as well.”

No play was possible after the schedule tea time interval on the second day after rains swept across SuperSport Park, preventing South Africa from driving home the advantage of an imposing total.

After the five sessions in the field, Kemar Roach remains the best bowler with two for 52, but in his absence, due to injury on Wednesday, Sulieman Benn led the attack with two for 148 from 46 overs.

“We have been in the field for the better part of two days, so we are all clear on how the pitch is likely to play,” said Coley.

“I am sure our fellas will be in a positive frame of mind when we approach our first innings tomorrow.”

The best moment for West Indies in the game thus far has been an impressive bowling spell early in the South African innings that sparked a slide where South Africa lost three quick wickets for no runs in the space of 14 balls.

Coley says the bowlers did not put the ball in the right places and so must take blame for allowing their opponents to recover and dominate.

“There were times, especially that second hour yesterday, when we bowled in areas that caused a bit of problem,” Coley recalled.

“I am sure the bowlers will be honest with themselves and will actually agree that we never really put deliveries in areas consistently to be able to apply pressure.”

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Windies relying on openers to lead fightback

Ramdin rallies Windies vets to lead "youngsters" as Test series bowls off

CENTURION, South Africa (CMC) — A young West Indies side is embarking on a herculean task of upsetting the world’s best team, South Africa, as the first Test begins here at SuperSport Park in Centurion this morning.

First ball is 10:30 am daily (4:30 am Eastern Caribbean time/3:30 am Jamaica time).

Denesh Ramdin’s outfit, languishing at number eight in the Test rankings, is taking on the number one-ranked South Africans in a David and Goliath clash, the first in a three-Test series.

The West Indies, whose last win against South Africa was in the opening Test in 2007/08 series, are playing the homeside at a venue where they have won 14 of 19 Tests.

“This will be a very challenging series for us,” conceded Ramdin.

“South Africa have been doing something very good to be at the top of the rankings. It is important that we play consistent cricket throughout.”

The lowly-ranked Caribbean side, above Bangladesh and Zimbabwe, in the ICC Test rankings, is without opening batsman Chris Gayle, whose back injury returned when playing Twenty20 cricket in South Africa last month, and Darren Bravo, who opted out of the tour for personal reasons.

Veteran Shivnarine Chanderpaul and Marlon Samuels, who was top run-scorer on the last tour of South Africa and who hit a double-century in the warm-up game, are expected to be key to the Windies scoring.

“Our batting has not been up to scratch in the past couple years,” admitted Ramdin.

“So it’s important that myself, Marlon Samuels, Chanderpaul and the senior guys put up our hands and the younger guys go along,” said the Windies skipper.

South Africa are wary of a West Indian bowling line-up that includes left-arm fast bowler Sheldon Cotterell, Kemar Roach, Shannon Gabriel and Jason Holder, who are coached by former pacer Curtly Ambrose.

Rookie pacer Cottrell is being tipped to be a surprise element for West Indies after recent spells in the WICB Professional Cricket League and an explosive five-wicket burst in last week’s three-day tour match.

“No one bowler can win a game for you, it takes a team. As long as we play together as a team, we will do well here,” said Ambrose.

The surface at Centurion is known to offer bounce and carry despite a significant amount of green grass being stripped from the pitch on Monday.

Atmospheric conditions will also favour fast bowlers and rain is forecast for every day of the match, except Saturday.

Still, both teams are considering including a spinner in their line-up.

“It’s the biggest decision management will have to make,” said AB de Villiers.

“Centurion normally doesn’t turn that much which makes you feel that you’ve maybe go with that extra seamer, but with the team we are playing against, it might not be a bad idea to play a spinner.”

The West Indies clash against South Africa is their first international match since their tour of India was abandoned in October because of a pay dispute.

Despite their high-ranking status, the South Africans have not written off their Caribbean opponents and are concerned about players whom they are unfamiliar with.

“Ramdin has rallied them quite nicely after their recent troubles so they could be quite difficult to beat,” fast bowler Dale Steyn said.

“The wounded buffalo is always the most dangerous. That could be the type of side we are playing against. They could come out firing and playing the most determined cricket they have in a long time or they could come out as individuals and quickly fold.”

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Ramdin rallies Windies vets to lead "youngsters" as Test series bowls off

Ambrose cautions against writing off Windies

CENTURION, South Africa (CMC) – Bowling consultant Curtly Ambrose has cautioned pundits against writing off West Indies who started their three-match Test series against South Africa yesterday.

The former Windies pacer says he is happy with the level of preparation and is backing the lowly-ranked Caribbean side to do well against their top-rated opponents.

Eighth-ranked West Indies have had a poor record against their number one-ranked host — losing 10 of 12 Tests in South Africa, managing just one win and one draw.

“I feel very confident the way we are at the moment. I believe that we will do well, contrary to what others might believe,” said Ambrose.

“We all know South Africa are the number one team in the world, but we are prepared and ready to do battle.”

West Indies are optimistic about their bowling line-up in which rookie pacer Sheldon Cotterell is being tipped to be a surprise element against the Proteas.

Cotterell, who has been explosive in recent performances in the Caribbean and in the warm-up fixture, is part of a fast bowling arsenal that includes Kemar Roach, Shannon Gabriel and Jason Holder.

“Sheldon bowled very well in the warm-up game. Having travelled from the Caribbean and playing two days later, I thought it was a brilliant effort,” said the former Windies pacer who played 98 Tests.

“He’s looking good, but we’re going to rely on all the bowlers to bowl South Africa out twice. We are a team and we are going to play together as a team.”

Ambrose is urging his pacers not to get carried away with the prospects of South African pitches known for favouring fast bowlers.

“I’ve played in places where they are known to be bowler-friendly and the main thing is to keep focused and put the ball in the right areas,” said Ambrose.

“No one bowler can win a match; it takes a team effort. We’re certainly not going to bowl anything for them to drive.”

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Ambrose cautions against writing off Windies

Amla, de Villiers blast tons as South Africa floor impotent Windies

CENTURION, South Africa (CMC) — Unbeaten centuries from AB de Villiers and captain Hashim Amla squashed a brief flicker of resistance from West Indies, as South Africa dominated the opening day of the first Test here yesterday.

Asked to bat in bowler friendly conditions at SuperSport Park, South Africa slumped to 57 for three just after the first hour, but recovered through the brilliance of de Villiers and Amla, who dominated the last two sessions to propel the hosts to 340 for three at the close.

De Villiers stroked an attractive 141 not out and Amla, an unbeaten 131, two innings that snuffed the life out the Windies after they conjured up an enterprising period during the morning period which had hinted at something greater.

The pair have so far added 283 for the fourth wicket — a record for South Africa.

Impressive fast bowler Kemar Roach, the Windies’ best bowler so far with two for 52, struck twice in successive overs to help cripple the top order early on.

Openers Dean Elgar, who hit 28 and Alviro Petersen, 27, added 57 without much alarm in the first hour, as West Indies bowlers struggled to get it right.

Petersen started with successive fours off the first two balls of the innings from fast bowler Jerome Taylor, stray deliveries that were clipped to the leg-side boundary.

He took a third boundary through gully off Taylor in the right-armer’s next over and Elgar joined in the fun next over, swatting a short all from left-arm seamer Sheldon Cottrell — who surprisingly shared the new ball with Taylor — through mid-wicket for four.

It was Roach who got the breakthrough on the stroke of the first hour, when he got one to straighten in his third over to Petersen, for the right hander to nick a simple catch to Devon Smith at first slip.

Petersen faced 44 balls and struck six fours.

His dismissal sparked a slide where South Africa lost three quick wickets for no runs in the space of 14 balls.

In the next over — the first after the water break — Cottrell claimed the Windies’ second wicket, getting Elgar to slash a wide long hop to Marlon Samuels at gully, after facing three balls in his 42-ball knock.

Roach then struck again in the next over, producing another delivery which pitched and straightened and clipped the outside edge of Faf du Plessis’s bat through to wicketkeeper Denesh Ramdin.

With South Africa reeling, de Villiers and Amla arrived to turn the innings around in a partnership that completely deflated the tourists.

The right-handed de Villiers faced 211 balls and struck 15 fours and two sixes to post this 20th Test hundred in his 96th Test while Amla, also a right-hander, hit 17 fours off 244 balls in carving out his 23rd triple figure score.

Both started cautiously before moving quickly into stride, Amla crashing two successive fours through point off Taylor in the first over of a second spell and de Villiers stroking left-arm spinner Sulieman Benn to the cover boundary just before lunch for his second boundary.

On 102 for three at lunch, South Africa scored heavily in the next session, reeling off 115 runs as both batsmen put West Indies bowlers to the sword.

De Villiers moved into the 40s with two consecutive boundaries off Cottrrell in the bowler’s tenth over before reaching his half-century in streaky fashion, with a top edge for four off Cottrell a couple overs later.

Amla also moved into the 40s with a streaky shot over first slip off Cottrell and reached his 50th Test match half-century with a single to backward point off the ineffective Taylor.

He celebrated in the same over, whipping the bowler through mid-wicket for four before following up next ball with a superb drive to the cover ropes.

Both batsmen were in sight of their centuries at tea, with South Africa on 225 for three, and de Villiers motored into the 90s with two boundaries off Roach in the second over after the resumption.

He eventually reached three figures with a single to mid-off off Benn, off 137 balls with 14 fours and one six — a straight-ish hit off Benn.

Amla, meanwhile, whipped Roach to the ropes at mid-wicket to move into the 90s and then raised three figures in style — driving Benn to the cover boundary and then cutting the lanky spinner to the point boundary a couple deliveries later.

Scoreboard

SOUTH AFRICA 1st innings

A Petersen c Smith b Roach 27

D Elgar c Samuels b Cottrell 28

F du Plessis c wkp Ramdin b Roach 0

*H Amla not out 133

AB de Villiers not out 141

Extras (b3, lb 5, w 2, nb 1) 11

TOTAL (3 wkts, 91 overs) 340

To bat: S van Zyl, +Q de Kock, V Philander, D Steyn, M Morkel, K Abbott

Fall of wickets: 1-57, 2-57, 3-57.

Bowling: Taylor 16.1-2-77-0, Cottrell 17-1-74-1 (w1, nb1), Roach 15.5-4-52-2 (w1), Benn 30-5-82-0, Samuels 11-0-45-0, Brathwaite 1-0-2-0.

WEST INDIES — D Ramdin (captain), K Brathwaite, D Smith, L Johnson, M Samuels, S Chanderpaul, J Blackwood, J Taylor, K Roach, S Cottrell, S Benn.

Toss: West Indies.

Umpires: Aleem Dar, Billy Bowden; TV – Paul Reiffel.

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Amla, de Villiers blast tons as South Africa floor impotent Windies