PHOTO: AFP

BIG KNOCK: Graeme Smith hit a match-winning knock of 91 in South Africa's crushing win over Scotland.

BASSETERRE (ST KITTS): Graeme Smith flayed from the front with an incendiary 91-run knock as South Africa cruised to cricket World Cup's Super Eight stage trampling Scotland by seven wickets with 26.4 overs to spare in a Group A match here on Tuesday.

After mauling the minnows, South Africa now meet Australia in another crucial group A match on Saturday to determine which team would move to the Super Eight with two extra points in their pocket.

After they got a flying start, the South Africans maintained the tempo right till the end and needing five to win, Justin Kemp charged down the tracks to send the ball soaring over the stadium to seal the issue with a six.

Chasing a paltry winning target of 187, Smith and his opening partner AB de Villiers (62) looked in tremendous hurry as they unleashed unrelenting attack from both ends with the Scotland bowlers runnings for covers.

Smith took just 36 balls to complete his half-century, while de Villiers needed 41 and they ensured there was no let up in Scotland's misery after reaching their personal milestone.

Smith's blistering knock included 13 boundaries besides the six and he walked away with the Man of the Match's award.

Earlier, Riding on Dougie Brown's defiant unbeaten 45 and a late surge, Scotland posted 186 for eight, their highest World Cup score.

Pitted against world's number one ODI side, the Scots did not seem overawed by the reputation of their rivals and played well within their limitation.

The minnows scored 55 runs off the last five overs to push the score to 186, with Paul Hoffmann producing an 11-ball cameo of 18.

Brown, who has played nine ODIs for England, was the mainstay of the Scotland innings. He took 64 balls for a sedate unbeaten knock of 45 which included three hits to the fence.

Put in to bat, Scotland avoided early setbacks and the opening pair of Fraser Watts (24) and Majid Haq (13) were not really perturbed by the new-ball attack of Shaun Pollock and Makhaya Ntini.

For South Africa, change bowlers did the trick by removing the top order to leave the minnows in a spot of bother.

South Africa today replaced Andre Nel with Ntini, who missed the first game to be with his wife, who gave birth to a baby girl.

Scotland, missing regular captain Craig Wright, who had returned home to attend the funeral of a family member, were led by Ryan Watson.-AP

Scores:

Scotland Innings

Fraser Watts c Smith b Langeveldt 24 Majid Haq c Boucher b Hall 13 Ryan Watson run out 31 Gavin Hamilton c De Villiers b Hall 4 Neil McCallum b Kallis 1 Colin Smith b Pollock 15 Dougie Brown not out 45 John Blain c Kemp b Hall 23 Paul Hoffman run out 18 Extras: (4lb,5w,1nb) 10 TOTAL: (for eight wickets) 186 Overs: 50

Fall of Wickets: 1-35, 2-43, 3-63, 4-71, 5-84, 6-113, 7-163, 8-186.

South Africa bowling: Shaun Pollock 10-1-25-1, Makhaya Ntini 9-0-25-0 (1nb), Andrew Hall 10-2-50-3 (2w), Charl Langeveldt 10-1-48-2 (3w), Jacques Kallis 8-0-21-0, Graeme Smith 3-0-13-0.<

South Africa Innings

Graeme Smith c Rogers b Haq 91 A.B. de Villiers c Brown b Rogers 62 Ashwell Prince c McCallum b Haq 21 Justin Kemp not out 12 Shaun Pollock not out 0 Extras: (1b,1w) 2

TOTAL: (for three wickets) 188. Overs: 23.2

Fall of Wickets: 1-134, 2-162, 3-178.

Scotland Bowling: Paul Hoffman 3-0-21-0, John Blain 4-0-32-0, Dewald Nel 3-0-24-0, Dougie Brown 2-0-20-0, Majid Haq 6-0-43-2, Glenn Rogers 5.2-0-47-1 (1w).

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