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For Graeme Smith and his men, a thumping seven-wicket triumph was just reward for a plan well-executed. But not without getting adequate help from the West Indies.
As has been the trend in this World Cup so far, the ‘favourite' won again in a match that seldom appeared to be heading for a close finish.
After opting to bowl, South Africa struck with Imran Tahir's spin and polished off the West Indians innings with the speed of Dale Steyn.
Notwithstanding Darren Bravo's stroke-filled 73, West Indies could manage only 222 after wickets fell in a heap. Given the South African batting might, the total was far from intimidating despite being built around a century partnership and a half-century stand in the middle of the innings.
Calculated assault
Man of the Match A.B. de Villiers, familiar with the surroundings after having served Delhi Daredevils for three seasons, showed the way with a calculated assault, lifting the team from 20 for two with a century stand in the company of Smith.
He finished the job with another useful stand with Jean-Paul Duminy after a brief interruption caused by rain. The newly-laid pitch, true to its traditional nature of offering slow and low bounce, was well exploited by the South African slower bowlers. It is difficult to recall South Africa playing a one-day game with three specialist spinners.
South Africa took to the field with a clear plan — to play positively. After opting to field under cloud cover, Smith straightaway sprang a surprise on the opposition by tossing the ball to Johan Botha, with Tahir and left-arm spinner Robin Peterson waiting for their turn.
In fact, off-spinner Botha gave the match a thrilling start by sending back Chris Gayle off the third ball. Gayle offered a low-catch to lone slip after the ball turned and kissed the outside edge of his defensive bat.
After Botha returned to end the second wicket stand of 111 runs by scalping an irrepressible Darren Bravo, Pakistan-born debutant leg-spinner Tahir struck four times.
Refreshing
It was refreshing to watch a debutant wrist-spinner tossing the ball up, not afraid of being punished and producing googlies to keep the batsmen guessing. Tahir stayed aggressive and reaped the harvest on a surface that encouraged him.
Tahir impressed when he took a return catch to dislodge the well-set opener Devon Smith. He then accounted for two vastly experienced campaigners, Ramnaresh Sarwan and Shivnarine Chanderpaul, before signing off with a maiden over that ended in the dismissal of Devon Thomas.
The best phase of the day for West Indies was when the brave Darren, complemented well by a steady Devon Smith, took the battle to the opposition.
Darren carried on with his good form. He did not hold back his stroke-making abilities on a pitch that looked good for batting every time Dale Styen, Morne Morkel or Kallis bowled. No wonder, Darren got all his eight boundaries off this trio, hitting three each off Steyn and Kallis.
Later, Darren's elder brother Dwayne Bravo (who later hurt his knee after a fall while bowling) and Chanderpaul raised 58 runs for the fifth wicket before the innings lost momentum for the last time, with the last five wickets falling for just 13 runs.
As has been the trend in this World Cup so far, the ‘favourite' won again in a match that seldom appeared to be heading for a close finish.
After opting to bowl, South Africa struck with Imran Tahir's spin and polished off the West Indians innings with the speed of Dale Steyn.
Notwithstanding Darren Bravo's stroke-filled 73, West Indies could manage only 222 after wickets fell in a heap. Given the South African batting might, the total was far from intimidating despite being built around a century partnership and a half-century stand in the middle of the innings.
Calculated assault
Man of the Match A.B. de Villiers, familiar with the surroundings after having served Delhi Daredevils for three seasons, showed the way with a calculated assault, lifting the team from 20 for two with a century stand in the company of Smith.
He finished the job with another useful stand with Jean-Paul Duminy after a brief interruption caused by rain. The newly-laid pitch, true to its traditional nature of offering slow and low bounce, was well exploited by the South African slower bowlers. It is difficult to recall South Africa playing a one-day game with three specialist spinners.
South Africa took to the field with a clear plan — to play positively. After opting to field under cloud cover, Smith straightaway sprang a surprise on the opposition by tossing the ball to Johan Botha, with Tahir and left-arm spinner Robin Peterson waiting for their turn.
In fact, off-spinner Botha gave the match a thrilling start by sending back Chris Gayle off the third ball. Gayle offered a low-catch to lone slip after the ball turned and kissed the outside edge of his defensive bat.
After Botha returned to end the second wicket stand of 111 runs by scalping an irrepressible Darren Bravo, Pakistan-born debutant leg-spinner Tahir struck four times.
Refreshing
It was refreshing to watch a debutant wrist-spinner tossing the ball up, not afraid of being punished and producing googlies to keep the batsmen guessing. Tahir stayed aggressive and reaped the harvest on a surface that encouraged him.
Tahir impressed when he took a return catch to dislodge the well-set opener Devon Smith. He then accounted for two vastly experienced campaigners, Ramnaresh Sarwan and Shivnarine Chanderpaul, before signing off with a maiden over that ended in the dismissal of Devon Thomas.
The best phase of the day for West Indies was when the brave Darren, complemented well by a steady Devon Smith, took the battle to the opposition.
Darren carried on with his good form. He did not hold back his stroke-making abilities on a pitch that looked good for batting every time Dale Styen, Morne Morkel or Kallis bowled. No wonder, Darren got all his eight boundaries off this trio, hitting three each off Steyn and Kallis.
Later, Darren's elder brother Dwayne Bravo (who later hurt his knee after a fall while bowling) and Chanderpaul raised 58 runs for the fifth wicket before the innings lost momentum for the last time, with the last five wickets falling for just 13 runs.