The Hindu : Sport / Cricket : Graeme Smith in aggressive mood

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Monday, May 09, 2005

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Graeme Smith in aggressive mood

KINGSTON: Captain Graeme Smith smashed a run-a-ball 103 to guide South Africa to an eight-wicket win with five overs to spare in the first One-Day International against the West Indies here on Saturday.

Smith shared an opening stand of 131 with Boeta Dippenaar as the visitor knocked off the runs losing just two wickets.

West Indies batted first after winning the toss and was bowled out for 253 off 48.5 overs. Ramnaresh Sarwan top scored with 72. Fast bowler Makhaya Ntini took four for 46 to lead the South African attack.

Smith, despite being named man of the series in the Test series, was clearly an unhappy man following a terrible end to the final Test in Antigua, which resulted in two judicial hearings.

Smith followed up his three centuries in the Test series with his fourth ODI century, which contained 13 boundaries. Bravo conceded 34 runs in four overs.

Dippenaar hit 56, while Jacques Kallis (51 not out) and Herschelle Gibbs (40 not out) provided the finishing touches to the chase.

Dippenaar, chosen to open the batting instead of A. de Villiers, justified the decision as he hit seven fours and one six off 68 balls. He was bowled by part-timer Wavell Hinds, missing a slog to the leg-side.

Smith fell just after completing his fourth century in his last eight one-dayers. He was caught behind off medium-pacer Dwayne Smith. But the sell-out crowd of 12,000 had little else to celebrate as the South African batsmen flourished.

Gibbs enjoyed himself with three fours and two huge straight sixes off Corey Collymore during the 36 deliveries he faced.

Kallis, content to take singles, finished the match with two fours off successive balls from Bravo. The righthander faced 68 balls.

Earlier, Ntini lifted South African spirits by dismissing the Jamaican opening pair of Wavell Hinds (5) and Chris Gayle (26). Hinds deflected a yorker back on to his stumps, while Gayle was brilliantly caught by Gibbs, who dived full stretch at extra-cover. Sarwan, who faced 111 balls, hit three fours and a six. — AP

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