The Hindu : Sport : Desperation time for Windies and S. Africa

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Tuesday, Apr 10, 2007
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Sport

Desperation time for Windies and S. Africa

Both sides take the field knowing that a defeat could end their chances of reaching the semifinals

ST GEORGE'S: Seemingly down and out after three straight losses, World Cup host West Indies has been thrown a lifeline by lowly Bangladesh's shock victory over South Africa.

Brian Lara's team meets South Africa in the brand new Grenada National Stadium _ rebuilt since a 2005 hurricane destroyed the old one _ on Tuesday with everything at stake.

South Africa was cruising, having won its first two Super 8 games, until the 67-run defeat against Bangladesh while West Indies has yet to win in the Super 8s, having lost to Sri Lanka, New Zealand and Australia.

West Indies players watched the South Africans lose from their Grenada hotel and have spotted a weakness in the Proteas, recently ranked number one in the world by the ICC and widely tipped to reach the semifinals comfortably.

South Africa was unable to chase down Bangladesh's total of 251, falling victim to the modest attack of medium pace and three spinners. West Indies believe that if they can post a serious target, their bowling attack can apply pressure on South Africa.

BELEAGUERED: Both Chris Gayle and Brian Lara have drawn flak, the former for his non-performance at the World Cup and the latter for some questionable captaincy. — PHOTO: AFP

``We've got another opportunity and we've just got to put our best foot forward this time,'' coach Bennett King said. ``Obviously we need to make more runs. Anybody who does or doesn't know cricket can see that. The players to a man recognize they have a lot of responsibility, specially in the engine room up in the top four.

``They haven't clicked, and when sides are doing well you'll usually find one of the top four scoring a hundred. There's no secret to it. We've just got to knuckle down and put our heads down and apply ourselves better, make the right decisions.''

There has been no indication so far that Lara's men have any chance of progressing very much further in the competition.

Not only have they lost every Super 8s game, they have given the impression of a team in disarray. After the third loss, to Sri Lanka in Guyana a week ago, the squad went to their respective homes rather than working on team bonding.

King defended the decision to allow the team to scatter.

``Having a break from the whole tournament and going back to people who love them and care for them is quite important,'' he said. ``Trying to break that cycle we seemed to be in. They are always fairly quiet. But internally, we have our characters and the mood around the camp has been excellent all the way through.''

West Indies' defeats have been heavy and its top Super 8s score has been 219. The hosts lost by seven wickets to New Zealand and the other two losses were by more than 100 runs. Lara, Shivnarine Chanderpaul and Ramnesh Sarwan have scored half centuries but the bowlers have been punished.

West Indies great Garfield Sobers has backed Lara against the criticism that followed West Indies' disappointing performance in the World Cup so far.

Sobers felt it was not fair to lay the blame on the captain alone.

``There have always been criticisms about Lara. I don't know what people expect of him,'' Sobers said. ``I don't know if the people expect him to hold their (the players) hands and to take them away and make them perform. Lara, in my estimation, is still the most knowledgeable person in West Indies cricket. Lara knows his cricket.''

Lara is not the only captain under pressure.

Smith found it difficult to explain the loss to Bangladesh. But he said his team would be glad for a change of environment on the tourist island of Grenada rather than the humidity of the South American mainland.

``Just getting into a fresh environment does supply you with a bit more energy,'' Smith said. ``But what we need to do is discuss what went on, discuss where we went wrong, and discuss what we need to improve to tackle the games ahead.''

Smith also faces being without batsman Herschelle Gibbs, the only one to fire against Bangladesh despite playing with a runner because of a calf injury. There are also doubts about the fitness of crucial allrounder Andrew Hall, who did not play in the defeat for what team management said at the time were tactical reasons.

Andre Nel was a successful replacement for Hall, taking 5-45 with his aggressive pace and he is likely to retain his place.

England's loss to Australia on Sunday in Antigua helped out South Africa, which has four points while West Indies has two.-- AP

The teams: South Africa (from): Graeme

Smith (captain), AB de Villiers,

Jacques Kallis, Herschelle Gibbs,

Loots Bosman, Ashwell Prince,

Mark Boucher, Justin Kemp,

Shaun Pollock, Andrew Hall,

Makhaya Ntini, Andre Nel, Charl

Langeveldt.

West Indies: Brian Lara (captain),

Chris Gayle, Shivnarine