South Africa provide Cronje with performance to be proud of

Charlie Austin

August 13, 2002

In their first match since the death of disgraced former captain Hansie Cronje, South Africa won the inaugural One-Day International played at Tangiers, convincingly defeating tournament favourites Pakistan by 54 runs.

Shaun Pollock's side appeared inspired by the significance of the occasion, observing an emotional minute's silence and wearing black armbands as a mark of respect for Cronje, who remained close to the players despite his role in the match-fixing scandal.

"We dedicated this match to Hansie and tried to a produce a performance that he would be proud of," revealed Pollock afterwards, "and looking down on us from above, I'm sure that he would have been pretty happy."

Indeed the sharpness of their performance belied the fact that the majority of the side had not played competitive cricket during the past three months, as the batsmen scored an above-par 283 on a slow pitch before the bowlers dismissed Pakistan for 229.

Opener Herschelle Gibbs, who was only reunited with his lost cricket kit last night, was adjudged Man of the Match for his 114, his seventh one-day century, which laid the foundations for South Africa's victory.

Gibbs hit eight fours and four sixes during an intelligent innings that included crucial partnerships with Nicky Boje (52) and Jonty Rhodes (46).

Assessing the pitch conditions quickly, the South African's worked hard for their runs, running between the wickets particularly well.

New coach Eric Simmons was impressed: "I don't think it was a wicket for big scoring shots and the crucial part was the way Herschelle and Jonty played in the middle of the innings - if they had tried to get us to a large total by going for their shots we might have struggled."

To threaten South Africa's total Pakistan needed to start briskly, making full use of the hard ball and fielding restrictions. And openers Imran Nazir and Saaed Anwaar did just, bringing up Pakistan's fifty in just the seventh over of the innings.

Nazir hit nine boundaries in his 29-ball 40 and Anwaar struck five in his 23 before Jacques Kallis, brought on after an expensive opening burst from Makhaya Ntini, conjured up a crucial double strike: Anwaar was deceived by a slower delivery, chipping to mid on, and Nazir was trapped lbw to leave Pakistan 69 for two.

Pakistan remained in the chase right up to the final overs, but paid the penalty for their middle order failing to crack on after playing themselves in, no batsmen passing fifty despite all the top seven spending significant time at the crease.

South Africa bowled astutely, mixing up the pace of their deliveries and making it difficult for the Pakistanis to score the boundaries in which they thrive.

And unlike Pakistan earlier in the day, who had missed several chances in a messy fielding display, the South African's were vibrant in the field, especially Jonty Rhodes at backward point and mid-wicket.

Earlier in the day, South Africa had boldly elected to bat first despite uncertainty over the likely behaviour of a pitch that had only hosted two club matches before.

But although they lost Gary Kirsten (2) and Jacques Kallis (23) within the first 15 overs, the decision was rewarded as Boje, promoted up the order, kick-started the innings with a rapid half-century.

After his 85 run partnership with Boje, Gibbs then added 120 with Rhodes, a stand that swung the initiative firmly towards South Africa.

Pakistan came back strongly in the final overs, with Waqar Younis finishing with five for 38 from his allotted overs, but South Africa's 283 proved to be more than enough in the circumstances.

Pakistan and Sri Lanka will now play on Wednesday.

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Players/Umpires

Herschelle Gibbs

Waqar Younis

Series/Tournaments

Morocco Cup

Teams

Pakistan

South Africa