SA WI ODI 3: AB de Villiers Rescues SA; WI Outplayed as SA Win Series 3-0

South Africa, it seemed, did not have enough on board. Yet only the West Indies could have played the way they did as the South African bowlers dug in their heels and made little seem like plenty for a series win at Windor Park, Dominica.

ab de villiers against south africa

AB de Villiers played a crucial role in holding together a South African innings that seemed to be travelling in circles. In hindsight, the value of that innings assumes even greater significance given that it was the one thing the West Indies lacked in their batting.

West Indies were shot out for 158 in only thirty-eight over, chasing what was considered a modest target of 224 after making South Africa sweat. That the aggressive Dale Richards was the top scorer on twenty-eight tells some story. Poor shot selections, lack of intensity and presence of mind in running between the wickets and a solid foundation and partnerships tore in the West Indies for a humiliating series loss with two matches still to go.

On the other hand, the South African bowlers had a tougher task and it did not look to be going South Africa's way initially before the West Indies batsmen started to play lazy shots, playing right into the hands of South Africa. While Charl Langeveldt was rewarded with three wickets for precipitating the collapse, Morne Morkel played his part for four wickets as well.

AB's innings of seventy, on the contrary, was the critical innings after the top three failed to kick on and South Africa struggled to shake off the holding phase. The bowlers though had a different game plan, they bowled hard, aggressive and had the West Indies on the back foot, perhaps even when they did not need to be.

Injury scare: Johan Botha suffered an injury scare when the ball got stuck between his visor and helmet while batting with blood dripping all over his shirt and ball. Luckily he was hit above the eye but he was back on the field and in action, taking the final catch while bowling six overs, apparently stitched up by the look of things.

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