Scotland v South Africa

South Africa produced an ominously analytic achievement to accelerate Scotland packing in the ICC World Twenty20, assault them by the additional accomplished allowance in this architecture of 130 runs. AB de Villiers absurd a chic and accurate 79 from aloof 34 in South Africa's 211 for 5, the accomplished absolute of the clash so far, afore Dale Steyn and Johan Botha tore through Scotland who were formed for 81, the seventh-lowest Twenty20 total.

This was a best achievement from one of the clash favourites. Clashing England, who were out-thought and out-played by Netherlands in the aperture match, South Africa asserted themselves from the alpha to lay bald Scotland's abstruse flaws, not to acknowledgment their abridgement of experience.

Chasing a alarming 212, Scotland were bargain to a hopeless 50 for 6 at the center point. Steyn agape over Ryan Watson and Colin Smith (his additional first-ball avoid in as abounding days) while Wayne Parnell removed Gavin Hamilton, who absitively to accessible the innings. Steyn not often accomplished his top pace, but he needn't have: he was quick and alarming abundant to complete a admonishing to the added teams in the tournament. Kyle Coetzer briefly stood in South Africa's way, the alone Scotland batsman to booty them on, smiting Albie Morkel over long-on for two abundant sixes to accord a affable and affectionate army article to cheer, but these were the aftermost atrocious runs of an innings already terminated.

Coetzer's 31-ball 42 crowned an absorbing claimed affectation from him, afterward his outstanding bolt in South Africa's innings to abolish Mark Boucher. Afore that, however, Graeme Smith and Jacques Kallis ensured South Africa got off to a aerial start. Kallis was aboriginal to accessible his shoulders, assault the aberrant Callum MacLeod through added awning afore flicking him accomplished for four more. He took to Jan Stander - who had a howler of a clash - with greed, flaying him over astern point; flicking a devious to fine-leg afore aboveboard acid alert added accomplished point. South Africa, clashing England who stuttered so aimlessly two canicule ago, were not activity to let an Associate ancillary get the more good of them.

Scotland were apprenticed to advance their fielding by the captain, Hamilton, yesterday, but he himself was alert at accountability with a brace of blurred indiscretions, and overall, his side's fielding occasionally verged on the comical. Scotland are annihilation if not fighters, however, and they fought aback impressively with three wickets. Majid Haq, a able and underrated offspinner, induced a blubbery central bend to a slog-sweep from Kallis to end his innings on 48. Smith, too, attempted a agnate attempt three assurance after but top-edged it to the wicketkeeper. Ryan Watson was again brought on and a admirable allotment of flight accounted for Herschelle Gibbs, who was aloof alpha to attending ominous.

And again de Villiers took over with relish. Initially favouring an accepted access with a alternative of elegant, chic drives, he again broiled Haq for a collapsed fix over long-on afore aperture himself up to Glenn Rogers' slow-left-arm spin, cover-driving him with admirable blaze and elegance. With bristles overs to go, the berserk final flurry was instigated and Watson was advised with authentic disdain, carted over midwicket for a crowd-pleasing six.