Potchefstroom: Hosts South Africa dropped veteran fast bowler Allan Donald, then galloped to a 10-wicket win over Kenya to get its World Cup campaign back on track on Wednesday.
All-rounder Lance Klusener, emerging from a long slump to revive memories of his exploits in the 1999 World Cup, took 4-16 as South Africa bowled out Kenya for 140 at the North West Stadium. Herschelle Gibbs then smashed an unbeaten 87 off 66 balls and Gary Kirsten made 52 off 63 deliveries as South Africa won with 28.4 overs to spare. It was South Africa's first success in the tournament after losing its opening match to the West Indies at Cape Town last Sunday. South Africa started its innings before lunch and ended the match in quick time after resumption. Donald, 36, bowled poorly against the West Indies but it was a surprise when South Africa's most experienced bowler was apparently made the scapegoat for a three-run defeat on Sunday. He was the only change from the side that played in Cape Town. A team spokesman said Donald was fit and his omission was a selection decision. There could be an early recall for Donald, however, because his replacement Charl Langeveldt was unimpressive, conceding 24 runs in five overs without taking a wicket. The selectors may decide they need Donald's experience against New Zealand at the Wanderers in Johannesburg on Sunday. Kenya made a disastrous start when Kennedy Otieno was needlessly run out in the second over. South African captain Shaun Pollock took two wickets in his opening spell but opener Ravindu Shah made a polished 60 after being dropped by wicket-keeper Mark Boucher off Makhaya Ntini when he had two. Shah, who made 50 in Kenya's only previous World Cup encounter with South Africa in Amstelveen, Holland, in 1999, hit seven fours before he too was a victim of poor running between the wickets. He was sent back by Maurice Odumbe when he sought a second run and could not beat a throw from Klusener to the bowler's end from backward square leg. Klusener, man of the series in the 1999 World Cup but out of form for the past two seasons before clubbing 57 off 48 balls against the West Indies, was the main destroyer. The batsmen found it almost impossible to score off him, with five of the 16 runs he conceded in eight overs coming from a leg-side wide which went to the boundary. Despite Kenya's poor batting, it was not a good day in the field for South Africa. Boucher put down a second chance when he dropped Thomas Odoyo off left-arm spinner Nicky Boje. Odumbe was missed by Jonty Rhodes at short cover off Boje, while Pollock twice dropped Odoyo off successive balls from Ntini, although the first was a near- impossible chance as he ran back from slip to chase a skied hook. Gibbs was in imperious form as he hit four sixes and 12 fours against a modest attack, while the left-handed Kirsten also scored briskly.
E-mail
To the Editor
Print
Be the first to comment this article.