Gibbs strikes 101, WI laments rain

South Africa and the West Indies will continue tomorrow in their battle for a semi-final spot in the 2004 Champions Trophy. Sufficient rain fell to ensure that the game be sent into the reserve day on Sunday, with the West Indies still having potentially another 44 overs left in their chase.

Despite the rain, a lot of exciting cricket was featured. Most notably of the excitement, the Oval crowd was treated to a Herschelle Gibbs century, though not vintage, that set the base for the South African innings. Entering the game in a year-long stretch of poor form, Gibbs hit 9 fours and a six in a 135-ball 101. Immediately after launching offspinner Gayle for a six, he was well-caught by Bravo in the deep and the South African innings went into decline.

It was 198/3 in 43.3 overs with Gibbs' departure, then Martin van Jaarsveld (0), Mark Boucher and Jacques Rudolph (46) followed within 21 balls attempting to elevate the scoring rate. Rudolph has been twice dropped earlier and made his luck count, contributing 46 off 39 balls with 4 fours and a six over midwicket off Bradshaw.

Eventually the score settled at 246/6 at the end of the 50th over, significantly less than what was threatened earlier by Graeme Smith's men, when they piled up 102/0 in 21 overs. Coming in strangely late in the innings, Lance Klusener was unbeaten with 12 runs and Pollock faced 11 balls for his 13 not out when the limitation of overs was brought into effect.

Earlier, Brian Lara won the toss and elected to bowl first on a track with some life in it. Without an injured Mervyn Dillon, the West Indian seam attack lacked any real venom but kept things tight in the initial exchanges. Smith (45) and Gibbs sought to accelerate though, and advanced the score nicely to 102 where Gayle made his first mark.

The Jamaican allrounder hit Smith's stumps after the left-hander missed an attempted cut. The consequent celebratory 'jig' was due to be repeated amidst Gayle's 3/50, the best West Indian figures. Replacing his captain, Kallis never really looked settled and was spectacularly bowled off the pad by Dwayne Bravo. Bravo's first 3 overs were dispatched for 27 runs, but he came back nicely later in the piece and finished with more respectable figures of 9-0-54-1. However, it was the spinners who took the major credit in pegging the scoring, especially Ryan Hinds and his 10-0-35-0.

Gibbs century march took 133 balls, with his second 50 taking 74 balls more than his first. Having earlier predicted that he would hit form against the West Indies, Gibbs made good on his word and played the essential innings for his team.

In their chase of 247 for a semi-final spot, the West Indies faced only 6 overs before the rains came and obvious concerns with it. The consideration is that, if this game should be rained out without a results possible, South Africa would advance as the West Indies would return home due inferior run rate. Resuming tomorrow will be Gayle (12 not out) and Hinds (6 not out) with their team at 20/0 needing some 227 runs from 44 overs at 5.15 per over if they are to pull off victory.

Match Summary:

South Africa innings 246/6 (50 overs)
(HH Gibbs 101 [135], JA Rudolph 46 [39], GC Smith 45 [64])
(CH Gayle 3/50 [10], IDR Bradshaw 2/40 [10])

West Indies innings 20/0 (6 overs)
(CH Gayle 12 not out [13], WW Hinds 6 not out [24])

Game delayed until reserve day due to rain.

Posted by Liam