da pixbet： When South Africa won the toss in the match against the Americas, theyjumped at the opportunity to have a good bat on a sunny day at theAsgiriya Stadium in Kandy
Anand Vasu19-Jan-2000When South Africa won the toss in the match against the Americas, theyjumped at the opportunity to have a good bat on a sunny day at theAsgiriya Stadium in Kandy. Both openers, G Smith (59) and A Puttick(76) got stuck into the juicy American medium pacers and pasted themall around the park. None of the American bowlers could stop thesteady flow of runs.It was only Oliver Pitcher who provided some respite with his nippyspell of 7-0-27-2. Pitcher ran up to the crease with a steady rhythmand his enthusiasm never diminished through his spell. It was hardlysurprising that he picked up the only two wickets to go to the bowlerson the day. When Smith mishit Pitcher, the ball was safely held byStephen Outerbridge to give America its first breakthrough. Once againit was Pitcher who made the difference as a good sharp throw from thedeep found Puttick short of his ground. Century maker from earlierJacques Rudolph also fell to Pitcher as he attempted a wild swipeacross the line to a straight ball and missed the ballcompletely. Scorecards will never reveal how much spirit OliverPitcher brought to this game.Apart from those three breakthroughs, there was no joy for America asthe South Africans marched confidently on to 264/3 off 50 overs.The South Africans played their cricket hard, and probably more sobecause they had been eliminated from the Super League withoutactually completing a single game. In contrast the Americans wererelaxed and looked to enjoy the day?s cricket. However it must besaid that this did not reduce the earnestness with which theyapproached the game.No 11 from the last game, Kevin Sandhers, came out to open the battingin the company of Zubin Surkari. But Surkari didn?t last very long,with Morkel and Senekal steaming in and generating a fair bit of pace.Sandhers stuck around for over eight overs before he was caught bySmith at third slip when he jabbed at a ball from Senekal. Though hewas at the crease for over eight overs, Sandhers had not yet openedhis account.Once again it was only Ashish Bagai who displayed any felicity withthe bat. He flicked and cut especially well, and looked comfortableagainst all the bowlers. His unbeaten innings of 53, studded with sixboundaries was a reminder to the South Africans that the game ofcricket is never until the last ball has been bowled or the lastwicket taken. He was well supported by Stephen Outerbridge who spent68 minutes at the wicket to make 15 runs before he was brilliantlycaught behind by Tsolekile off the bowling of Morkel.Eventually America was all out for 113, giving South Africa victory by151 runs.