Proteas spinners destroy Windies
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New Delhi: Unfortunate West Indies tripped over the double nelson, 222 in 47.3 overs, as South African bowlers wreck havoc in their bating line up here at the Feroz Shah Kotla Stadium on Thursday.
Graeme Smith’s decision to go in with three specialist spinners worked wonders for South Africa as Johan Botha and Imran Tahir fought it out between them to wipe out the entire Caribbean top order.
Smith started it off with Botha on the infamous Kotla strip and reaped prize in the very first over when the right-arm spinner sent packing the dangerman Chris Gayle. He struck again to break the second wicket century partnership between Darren Bravo and Devon Smith by taking off Bravo.
Imran Tahir was indeed a surprise package for West Indies as he struck four times to take off the valid wickets of Devon Smith, Ramnaresh Sarwan, S. Chanderpaul and Devon Thomas.
All charged up by the spin action, Dale Steyn hit late on the Windies tail and took the wickets of Kieron Pollard, Darren Sammy and Sulieman Benn and put a full stop to the Caribbean innings.
Earlier, South Africa captain Graeme Smith elected to field after winning the toss and chose to start the attack with the combination of spin and pace in the form of Johan Botha and Dale Steyn.
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.
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