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07-Jun-2009 23:34:00 GMT
ICC Twenty20 World Cup, 2009

De Villiers Stars as South Africa Thrash Scotland

London: AB de Villiers' 79 not out provided the platform for South Africa to crush Scotland by 130 runs in the Proteas' opening match of the ICC World Twenty20 at the Oval on Sunday.

Scotland, chasing an unlikely 212 to win after South Africa made 211 for five, slumped to 81 all out.

South Africa produced an ominously clinical performance to send Scotland packing in the ICC World Twenty20, beating them by the second highest margin in this format of 130 runs.

AB de Villiers cracked a classy and authoritative 79 from just 34 in South Africa's 211 for 5, the highest total of the tournament so far, before Dale Steyn and Johan Botha tore through Scotland who were rolled for 81, the seventh-lowest Twenty20 total.

Scotland collapsed to 13 for four inside three overs and only Kyle Coetzer's gutsy 42 off 32 balls, featuring three sixes, prevented an even greater margin of defeat.

This crushing reverse ended minnows Scotland's slim hopes of qualifying for the second phase Super Eights after their seven-wicket loss to New Zealand, the other team in Group D, in a rain-affected match at the Oval on Saturday.

De Villiers faced just 34 balls, striking six sixes and six fours.

South Africa quick Dale Steyn bowled Ryan Watson off the fifth ball of the reply and, after Scotland captain Gavin Hamilton fell to Wayne Parnell, two wickets were lost with the score on 13.

Navdeep Poonia was run out needlessly for nough before Colin Smith was bowled first ball by a 91mph Steyn yorker.

Coetzer did give Scotland fans something to cheer by pulling Steyn for six but the match had been over as a contest long before then.

Scotland briefly staunched the flow of wickets before Neil McCallum was bowled by off-spinner Johan Botha to leave his side 35 for five.

South Africa saw captain Graeme Smith (38) and Jacques Kallis (48) put on 87 for the first wicket before off-spinner Majid Haq (two for 25) removed both openers in the space of four balls.

Kallis dragged an intended sweep against Haq onto his stumps having faced 31 balls with eight fours.

And three balls later Smith got a top-edge off Haq which was caught by Scotland wicket-keeper Smith.

Scotland put a brake on the run-rate and when Herschelle Gibbs was stumped by Smith off Watson, South Africa were 125 for three in the 15th over.

But the Proteas scored 83 runs off the last five overs although the last over did see Coetzer take a brilliant catch, diving backwards, to get rid of Mark Boucher.

South Africa conclude their Group D programme against New Zealand at Lord's on Monday.

Brief Score: South Africa 211 for 5 (de Villiers 79*, Kallis 48) beat Scotland 81 (Coetzer 42 Botha 2-17, van der Merwe 2-17) by 130 runs.


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