Rain in the 1992 World Cup, defeat in the hands of West Indies in the 1996 quarter-finals, tie in 1999 semi-finals and out of the tournament and loss in 2003 World Cup after a match ended in draw according to Duck-worth Lewis method. Against this backdrop, it can be safely said that South Africa have beaten all and sundry. All the drama and thrill were included in the quarterfinal-like match at Sophia Gardens, Cardiff and South Africa would not have thought they had been through to the semi-finals this way.
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Only one ball threw West Indies out of the tournament: the dismissal of Kieron Pollard (Photo: ICC)[/caption]
The match that had been reduced to 31 overs because of rain was in complete control of West Indies. When the 26th over ended, they needed 187 runs after losing five wickets, and they were on 190 by the time. But on the first ball of the 27th over, the catch of Kieron Polalrd by Sale Steyn changed the whole scenario. And it did not take more than a few seconds. As the next batsman Darren Sammy reached the crease, rain came in and West Indies remained at the score where they were, i.e. 190 for six, which was not enough for the victory. And it never rains but it pours. The match could not be resumed again and was declared tied. However, the Proteas proceeded to the semi-finals because of better run rate and West Indies could not make it the final four despite all-out efforts by Marlon Samuels, Chris Gayle, Dwayne Smith and Pollard.
Both teams of the Group B were totally relying on the match after having beaten by India and won against Pakistan. But the bad weather in Cardiff spoilt the mood of the match. West Indies were more worried because even if the match was totally abandoned, the result would be against them. When the match resumed after rain stopped, both teams had 31 overs to play. West Indies put South Africa into bat after winning the toss and the latter showed aggressiveness from the beginning keeping in view the reduced number of overs.
Openers Hashim Amla and Colin Ingram provided their team with an 80-run opening stand. Ingram’s 73 off 63 was the best innings of the day, mainly because it lead the Proteas to victory. Apart from Ingram, David Miller scored 38 off 29, AB de Villiers 37 off 26 and Faf du Plessis 35 off 32. It was because of these quick innings that South Africa posted a huge total of 230 runs in 31 overs.
By looking at the strong bowling line-up of South Africa, who also had Dale Steyn in the playing eleven, it seemed difficult that West Indies could even come close to the target. But despite losing three wickets inside 100 runs, the Caribbean did not lose their grip off the match.
Samuels and Pollard played decisive stokes when the required run rate was between eight and nine. Samuels first carved out 16 runs, hitting a six and two fours off Ryan McLaren and then snatched 17 runs from Robin Peterson to lead the team to 147. When West Indies needed another 84 runs in the 10 overs, Samuels was clean bowled by Steyn at a time when he was just two runs short of half-century.
Then came captain Dwayne Bravo who supported Pollard in nearing the target. After 26 overs, West Indies victory score should be 187 after losing five wickets and they were already three runs ahead of the target. But on the first ball of the next over, Pollard gave away a catch to Steyn on third man. Now the D/L par score was 191 for six. But rain arrived again. West Indies were one run behind the target and when the match ended in a draw, South Africa proceeded to the semi-finals, thanks to their greater run rate. Ironically, had Mother Nature intervened one ball earlier, the result would have been the other way round – West Indies would have sealed victory.
Ingram was declared the man of the match for his riveting batting.
Now South Africa will play the first semi-final against the number one team of Group A on June 19 at The Oval. India, who are now at the top position in Group B, will face the second number team of Group A on June 20 in Cardiff in the second semi-final.
As the Group B is now decided, Group A is still open to all four teams and England-New Zealand and Australia-Sri Lanka matches on June 16 and June 17 will be actually the quarter-finals.
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Only one ball threw West Indies out of the tournament: the dismissal of Kieron Pollard (Photo: ICC)[/caption]The match that had been reduced to 31 overs because of rain was in complete control of West Indies. When the 26th over ended, they needed 187 runs after losing five wickets, and they were on 190 by the time. But on the first ball of the 27th over, the catch of Kieron Polalrd by Sale Steyn changed the whole scenario. And it did not take more than a few seconds. As the next batsman Darren Sammy reached the crease, rain came in and West Indies remained at the score where they were, i.e. 190 for six, which was not enough for the victory. And it never rains but it pours. The match could not be resumed again and was declared tied. However, the Proteas proceeded to the semi-finals because of better run rate and West Indies could not make it the final four despite all-out efforts by Marlon Samuels, Chris Gayle, Dwayne Smith and Pollard.
Both teams of the Group B were totally relying on the match after having beaten by India and won against Pakistan. But the bad weather in Cardiff spoilt the mood of the match. West Indies were more worried because even if the match was totally abandoned, the result would be against them. When the match resumed after rain stopped, both teams had 31 overs to play. West Indies put South Africa into bat after winning the toss and the latter showed aggressiveness from the beginning keeping in view the reduced number of overs.
Openers Hashim Amla and Colin Ingram provided their team with an 80-run opening stand. Ingram’s 73 off 63 was the best innings of the day, mainly because it lead the Proteas to victory. Apart from Ingram, David Miller scored 38 off 29, AB de Villiers 37 off 26 and Faf du Plessis 35 off 32. It was because of these quick innings that South Africa posted a huge total of 230 runs in 31 overs.
By looking at the strong bowling line-up of South Africa, who also had Dale Steyn in the playing eleven, it seemed difficult that West Indies could even come close to the target. But despite losing three wickets inside 100 runs, the Caribbean did not lose their grip off the match.
Samuels and Pollard played decisive stokes when the required run rate was between eight and nine. Samuels first carved out 16 runs, hitting a six and two fours off Ryan McLaren and then snatched 17 runs from Robin Peterson to lead the team to 147. When West Indies needed another 84 runs in the 10 overs, Samuels was clean bowled by Steyn at a time when he was just two runs short of half-century.
Then came captain Dwayne Bravo who supported Pollard in nearing the target. After 26 overs, West Indies victory score should be 187 after losing five wickets and they were already three runs ahead of the target. But on the first ball of the next over, Pollard gave away a catch to Steyn on third man. Now the D/L par score was 191 for six. But rain arrived again. West Indies were one run behind the target and when the match ended in a draw, South Africa proceeded to the semi-finals, thanks to their greater run rate. Ironically, had Mother Nature intervened one ball earlier, the result would have been the other way round – West Indies would have sealed victory.
Ingram was declared the man of the match for his riveting batting.
Now South Africa will play the first semi-final against the number one team of Group A on June 19 at The Oval. India, who are now at the top position in Group B, will face the second number team of Group A on June 20 in Cardiff in the second semi-final.
As the Group B is now decided, Group A is still open to all four teams and England-New Zealand and Australia-Sri Lanka matches on June 16 and June 17 will be actually the quarter-finals.
South Africa vs West Indies
Champions Trophy, Match 9
June 14, 2013
Venue: Sophia Gardens, Cardiff
Result: Draw (D/L method)
(South Africa qualified for the semi-finals because of better run rate)
Man of the Macth: Colin Ingram
 | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Colin Ingram | c DM Bravo b Pollard | 73 | 63 | 6 | 2 |
| Hashim Amla | c Gayle b Samuels | 23 | 27 | 2 | 0 |
| AB de Villiers | c DM Bravo b Rampaul | 37 | 26 | 2 | 1 |
| Jean-Paul Duminy | c †Charles b DJ Bravo | 2 | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| Faf du Plessis | run out (DJ Bravo) | 35 | 32 | 3 | 1 |
| David Miller | c Sammy b DJ Bravo | 38 | 29 | 1 | 3 |
| Ryan McLaren | not out | 7 | 4 | 0 | 1 |
| Robin Peterson | not out | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Extras | b 2, lb 4, w 9) | 15 | |||
| Total | (6 wickets; 31 overs) | 230 | |||
| West Indies (bowling) | Overs | Maidens | Runs | Wickets |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ravi Rampaul | 6 | 0 | 37 | 1 |
| Tino Best | 5 | 0 | 35 | 0 |
| Sunil Narine | 7 | 0 | 47 | 0 |
| Darren Sammy | 2 | 0 | 18 | 0 |
| Dwayne Bravo | 5 | 0 | 43 | 2 |
| Marlon Samuels | 2 | 0 | 14 | 1 |
| Kieron Pollard | 4 | 0 | 30 | 1 |
 Target: 191 (26.1 over) | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chris Gayle | c du Plessis b Morris | 36 | 27 | 5 | 1 |
| Johnson Charles | c †de Villiers b Steyn | 16 | 26 | 2 | 0 |
| Devon Smith | lbw b Peterson | 30 | 29 | 4 | 0 |
| Marlon Samuels | b Steyn | 48 | 38 | 6 | 2 |
| Darren Bravo | run out (Amla/McLaren) | 12 | 7 | 2 | 0 |
| Kieron Pollard | c Steyn b McLaren | 28 | 23 | 5 | 0 |
| Dwayne Bravo | not out | 8 | 7 | 1 | 0 |
| Darren Sammy | not out | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Extras | (lb 5, w 7) | 12 | |||
| Total | (6 wickets; 26.1 overs) | 190 | |||
| South Africa (bowling) | Overs | Maidens | Runs | Wickets |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jean-Paul Duminy | 3 | 0 | 29 | 0 |
| Lonwabo Tsotsobe | 6 | 0 | 37 | 0 |
| Dale Steyn | 6 | 0 | 33 | 2 |
| Chris Morris | 4 | 0 | 30 | 1 |
| Robin Peterson | 4 | 0 | 22 | 1 |
| Ryan McLaren | 3.1 | 0 | 34 | 1 |
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