South Africa turn to real business

WORLD CUP: South African captain Graeme Smith said his team were well tuned-up for the real World Cup business after cruising to the Super Eight stages with two victories from two games.

“I think from the point of view of going through to the next round, the first two games are out of the way, and that’s a good thing,” Smith said after his team’s seven-wicket win against Scotland at Warner Park on Tuesday.

South Africa, ranked world number one, now meet bitter rivals Australia in a high-profile Group A clash on Saturday, a match Smith termed as real challenge.

“The World Cup is really starting for us now, and the first part of that is Saturday because Australia is the game that everyone’s been looking forward to,” said Smith, who hit an attractive 91 to help his team chase 189.

For their part Scotland deserved credit for playing out all their 50 overs to score their highest World Cup score of 186-8, former England Test player Dougie Brown top-scoring with 45.

Andrew Hall took 3-48 and fellow paceman Charl Langeveldt (2-48) enjoyed a good work-out after Smith won the toss and fielded. Smith said his team was ready for any opposition in the round of eight teams.

“I think every team has match winners, so I don’t want to delve into who’ll beat us and who won’t beat us. I think that as a team you cannot afford to take teams for granted, have to be ready for each day.

“If you’re slightly off the mark, teams can beat you. Australia is a big challenge in itself,” said Smith.

“I’m very relaxed at the moment. I think I’m going to get a lesson on how to fish, a couple of our farm boys are taking me fishing. Hopefully I don’t get too seasick.”

Analysing his team’s performance against Scotland, Smith said his bowlers offered more loose deliveries. “We weren’t any less aggressive against Scotland. There were just a lot of four-balls on offer. The track played well today, it was a really good wicket.

It was a lot slower against Holland,” said Smith of team’s first match which they won by 221 runs. “I think Scotland are the better unit, a few better bowling options and a few decent batters in the top six.”

BASSETERRE, Wednesday, AFP