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| Shaun Tait celebrates after taking the wicket of South Africa’s AB de Villiers during their semi-final in Gros Islet on Wednesday. (Reuters) |
Gros Islet: South Africa
tumbled to their lowest total in a World Cup match on Wednesday
when they were dismissed for 149 from 43.5 overs by defending
champions Australia in the second semi-final.
Australia roared into their fourth consecutive
World Cup final with a seven-wicket victory over South Africa.
After dismissing the Proteas for 149 in 43.5 overs, Australia
coasted to 153 for three in 31.3 overs to set up a showdown
with Sri Lanka in Saturday’s final in Barbados. For
the world champions, Michael Clarke top-scoed with an unbeaten
60.
South Africa’s previous lowest total was 184 in their
upset loss to Bangladesh in this edition’s Super Eight.
The winners will meet Sri Lanka in the final in Bridgetown
on Saturday. Justin Kemp top-scored with an unbeaten 49
from 91 balls while Herschelle Gibbs, who looked fortunate
to survive an appeal for caught behind after scoring four,
reached 39.
The remainder of the batting succumbed meekly to a combination
of excellent pace bowling and culpably loose shots with
Shaun Tait taking four for 39 and Glenn McGrath three for
18 to regain his place at the top of the tournament’s
wicket-taking list.
When Graeme Smith won the toss and chose to bat he was
as close to a smile as was possible on a morning of such
huge pressure.
He knew it was probably his side’s best chance of
challenging Australia, but within 10 overs his dream was
turning into a nightmare.
Their top order was blown away as they lost five wickets
for 27 runs inside the opening ten overs.
Smith was first to go, bowled by Nathan Bracken after
an ugly heave across the line intended to sail over the
covers. The delivery from left-hander to left-hander moved
away in the air to clip the off-stump.
South Africa’s senior batsman Jacques Kallis made
room to drive McGrath but was bowled next ball for five
trying to cut a delivery far too full for the shot. Ponting
introduced Shaun Tait in the ninth over and AB de Villiers
greeted the fast bowler by pulling the first ball fiercely
for four.
ait immediately worked up a high pace and with his fifth
ball de Villiers was beaten for speed and caught behind
by Adam Gilchrist for 15.
Ashwell Prince followed in the next over to McGrath, also
caught behind, for a duck to yet another loose shot to a
ball wide of the stumps.
Mark Boucher was out next ball caught by Matthew Hayden
at first slip. Kemp survived the hattrick ball.
Gibbs sliced Tait to third man for four and followed up
with a lovely cover-drive for a second boundary.
In combination with Kemp he restored some order to the
innings with Kemp hooking Shane Watson fiercely for six
to bring up the 50 partnership.
The 60-run stand between Kemp and Gibbs for the sixth wicket
was the only positive phase during the South African innings
who otherwise did little to erase the image of chokers.
Tait was recalled and Gibbs responded with a drive over
covers for his sixth four but was then caught behind two
balls later.
Andrew Hall and Shaun Pollock returned to the pavilion
in quick succession, leaving the innings in tatters at 103
for 8. Andre Nel (8) then blocked 41 balls before Tait’s
extra bounce did him in. Kemp, realising that he was running
out of partners, decided to open his shoulder and tasted
some success.
None of the tailenders, however, could stick around with
Kemp, who got to within one run of his half-century when
Watson bowled Charl Langeveldt for six to finish the innings.
most wickets in single edition
On Wednesday, Glenn McGrath recaptured a record he had lost to Muttiah Muralidharan
for one day. The Aussie pacer, who took three for 18 vs South Africa, now has
25 wickets in the tournament — the maximum in a single edition of the
World Cup. The Lankan offie reached 23 with his four-wicket haul on Tuesday.
Following is the list of bowlers with 20 or more wickets in a World Cup:
 G. McGrath
(Aus) — 25 wkts in 10 matches @ 13.04 in 2007
C. Vaas (SL) — 23 wkts in 10 matches @ 14.39 in 2003
M. Muralidharan (SL) — 23 wkts in 9 matches @13.34 in 2007
S. Tait (Aus) — 23 wkts in 10 matches @18.47 in 2007
B. Lee (Aus) — 22 wkts in 10 matches @17.90 in 2003
G. McGrath (Aus) — 21 wkts in 11 matches @14.76 in 2003
G. Allott (NZ) — 20 wkts in 9 matches @16.25 in 1999
S. Warne (Aus) — 20 wkts in 10 matches @18.05 in 1999
B. Hogg (Aus) — 20 wkts in 10 matches @15.65 in 2007
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