Younis dedicates World Cup to nation

Pakistan captain Younis Khan dedicated his team's World Twenty20 title to their troubled homeland on Sunday.

Pakistan defeated Sri Lanka by eight wickets to claim their first major title in 17 years at a sell-out Lord's with all-rounder Shahid Afridi named man of the match for his unbeaten 54 off 40 balls.

"We were underdogs and had less pressure, but we came good in the big games. It's a credit to the country and to the team," said Younis.

"We hadn't won anything since Imran Khan's team at the World Cup in 1992. This is a gift to our nation. Hopefully, it will help cheer them up.

"Afridi knows he's a great cricketer. He's a match winner and he's been fantastic for us."

Afridi was hailed as 'awesome' after the mercurial star led his country to the title.

Afridi smashed his second consecutive half-century, while former captain Shoaib Malik made 24 not out during a match-winning partnership of 76 for the undefeated third wicket.

"It was a pressure match. When I walked out to the wicket I was thinking I have to stay until the 20th over," said Shoaib.

"Shahid was awesome today and all credit to him. I told him to stay at the wicket and I will get some runs, that we can finish the game. He's a great cricketer."

Afridi paid tribute to skipper Younis Khan.

"I asked the captain to send me up the order and that's what he did," said Afridi.

"He just said don't worry about anything, just go out and play your natural game. The guys were really motivated. The captain and coaches tell us to enjoy our cricket and entertain. That's great motivation."

It was Sri Lanka's first defeat of the tournament, but skipper Kumar Sangakkara insisted his team will recover and become a better side.

"I'm proud of the way we competed. We enjoy our cricket and I believe we can go forward from here," said Sangakkara.

"We'll take this and come back stronger in next year's tournament. We have the best bowling unit in the world.

"We'll get better, we'll learn. We look forward to getting tougher mentally and physically."

source - indiatimes.com

For the latest betting odds visit Ladbrookes for live in game betting, online sports and event betting.

Pakistan beat Sri Lanka to lift World Twenty20 title at Lord's

Younis Khan's Pakistan were crowned the 2009 ICC World Twenty20 champions on Sunday evening as they decimated Sri Lanka in the final at Lord’s. With it, Pakistan exorcised the ghost of the 2007 final which they had lost narrowly to India.

* Score | In-depth: World T20
* Brief scores: SL 138-6 (Sangakkara 64*; Razzaq 3-20) lost to
Pak 139-2 (Afridi 54*; Jayasuriya 1-8) by 8 wickets.
* Man of the match: Shahid Afridi
* Man of the series: Tillakaratne Dilshan

Pakistan’s bowlers, led by Abdul Razzaq, restricted Sri Lanka to a measly 138-6 after they elected to bat. Pakistan went after the target slowly but assuredly. Shahid Afridi hit the winning runs — a leg bye through point — when they still had 1.2 overs and eight wickets left. The win would bring cheers to Pakistan’s millions who’ve been saddened by the perennial state of strife in their nation.

Once Kamran Akmal and Shahzaib Hasan added 48 in seven overs to get their chase going, Pakistan never looked like they were going to lose. Sri Lanka’s best chance was when they quickly dismissed both openers at the halfway mark with the spinners operating.

But Shahid Afridi played the innings of an elder statesman. In 2007, he had made a duck against India, but in this final his part-cool part-violent 54 brought calm to the Pakistan camp and set the win up in the company of Shoaib Malik, who made 24.

Earlier, Razzaq’s new ball strikes floored his opponents and never allowed them to get back up. Skipper Kumar Sangakkara’s 64 provided stability and Angelo Mathews’ happy hour swinging fetched him 35 as they rescued Sri Lanka from 70-6.

They were unbeaten in the tournament, but even with their Three Ms — Muralitharan, Mendis and Malinga — Sri Lanka were going to struggle to defend this score against a Pakistani side that began the tournament as no-hopers, started peaking in the Super Eights, and completed their story with the world title that had eluded them so narrowly earlier.

Sangakkara called heads and decided to bat on an even-looking surface. His side was straightaway in trouble as Tillakaratne Dilshan added nothing to his tally of 317 runs in the tournament. Bombared by short balls in the first over by Mohammad Aamer, Dilshan responded with a pull off the fifth ball but it only lobbed to Shahzaib Hasan. His tournament reads three fifties, two forties and two ducks.

Jehan Mubarak was promoted up to push the tempo but the move failed. The left-hander tried to clear midwicket but mistimed the shot to mid off where Hasan took his second catch.

Sanath Jayasuriya was beginning to cut loose. Having shovelled a six over off Razzaq, he attempted another one in the same over but played it on.

Mahela Jayawardene then ended his scratchy existence with a poke outside off-stump that Misbah-ul Haq caught at the only slip.

Umar Gul, who has finished the tournament as the leading wicket taker, came on to bowl his first, bowled a short ball at Chamara Silva, who slapped it straight to mid wicket. Three runs later, Shahid Afridi bowled a googly and Isuru Udana chopped it on. Sri Lanka were 70-6 in 13 full overs.

Sri Lanka still fought till the end, and nearly doubled their score in the last seven overs. But it wasn’t enough and it allowed Pakistan to script a turnaround that’s going to be talked about for some time.

Man of the match: Shahid Afridi, 54 not out, 1-20.

Man of the series: Tillakaratne Dilshan, 317 runs.

PAKISTAN WON T-20 WORLD CUP 2009

PAKISTAN WON THE WORLD CUP T-20 CHAMPIONSHIP.
Toss: Sri Lanka (Elected to Bat)
Summary: Pakistan won by 8 wickets
PAKISTAN:-
Pakistan : 139 / 2 in 18.4 overs (RR: 7.38)
Batsmen R B 4s 6s SR
Shoaib Malik * 24 22 1 0 109.09
Shahid Afridi 54 40 2 2 135.00

Session: 2nd innings

SRI LANKA
Sri Lanka : 138 / 6 in 20.0 overs (RR: 6.90)
Bowlers O M R W Nb Wd Eco.
Malinga * 3.4 0 14 0 0 0 3.82
Udana 4.0 0 44 0 1 2 11.00

Pakistan stop Sri Lanka at 138-6 in T20 final

Abdul Razzaq claimed three wickets as a fired-up Pakistan restricted Sri Lanka to 138-6 in the World Twenty20 final at Lord's here on Sunday.

Sri Lanka, the only unbeaten team in the tournament, were dealt quick blows after captain Kumar Sangakkara won the toss and elected to take first strike on a slow wicket.

The Lankans slumped to 2-2 in the first nine balls and that became 34-4 before Sangakkara himself led the rescue act with a defiant unbeaten 64 from 52 balls.

Sangakkara and Angelo Mathews put on 68 valuable runs for the unbroken seventh wicket as Sri Lanka plundered 59 runs in the final five overs.

Mathews returned unbeaten on 35 off 24 balls.

"I kept bowling at the stumps. I knew their guys would go for me so I bowled a full length," said Razzaq.

Pakistan got off to a sensational start in the sell-out final when teenage fast bowler Mohammad Aamir sent back the in-form Tillekaratne Dilshan with the fifth ball of the match.

Dilshan, the tournament's leading scorer with 317 runs, miscued a pull shot off the speedy left-armer and was caught at backward square-leg by Shahzaib Hasan for zero.

Four balls later, Shahzaib grabbed his second catch at mid-off as Jehan Mubarak skied a leading edge off Razzaq, who shared the new ball with Aamir.

Sanath Jayasuriya counter-attacked with a six and four in Razzaq's second over, but the bowler hit back two balls later as the left-handed veteran edged a ball on to his stumps after making 17.

Razzaq, who replaced the injured Yasir Arafat after ending his links with the rebel Indian Cricket League, struck again in his third over when Misbah-ul Haq dived to his right at slip to remove Mahela Jayawardene for one.

Chamara Silva brought up Sri Lanka's 50 in the 10th over when he pulled off-spinner Shoaib Malik to the square-leg fence, and then helped Sangakkara take 11 runs in the next over from Shahid Afridi.

The total moved to 67-4 in the 12th when seamer Umar Gul struck with his third ball to have Silva tapping a catch to Saeed Ajmal at mid-wicket after making 14.

Tailender Isuru Udana, who was surprisingly promoted to number seven, lasted only five balls when Afridi breached his defence to peg pack the stumps and make Sri Lanka 70-6 in 13 overs.

New Zealand bear Brunt of England assault

England quick Katherine Brunt took three wickets as New Zealand were bowled out for just 85 in the women's World Twenty20 final at Lord's here on Sunday.

Brunt finished with superb figures of three wickets for six runs in her maximum four overs to put England, who beat New Zealand in the 50-over World Cup final in Sydney in March, on course for a notable double.

Amy Satterthwaite's 19 was the top score in an innings where only four batsmen made double figures.

England, after captain Charlotte Edwards won the toss and elected to field, took their first wicket with the fifth ball of the innings

Off-spinner Laura Marsh deceived Suzie Bates with a flighted delivery and she was stumped, well out of her ground, by England wicket-keeper Sarah Taylor.

New Zealand then saw captain Aimee Watkins, who made 89 not out in their semi-final win over India, clean bowled by Brunt for just two on the drive.

The White Ferns then suffered two setbacks in the eighth as Brunt finished with a double-wicket maiden.

Lucy Doolan had struck a couple of elegant fours on her way to 14 but, trying to play a 'ramp' shot off Brunt she got an edge and was caught brilliantly by diving wicket-keeper Taylor.

Three balls later, Rachel Priest miscued a pull and was caught and bowled for nought to leave New Zealand in dire straits at 23 for four.

The collapse continued as Nicola Browne played on to Nicky Shaw and pace bowler Jenny Gunn (two for 19) took a wicket with her third ball to remove Sara McGlashan, sister of New Zealand men's international Peter.

Satterthwaite, going for a big shot, was eighth out at 62 when caught of Nicky Shaw and the White Ferns were all out when Sophie Devine was run out off the last ball of the innings.
New Zealand
S. Bates st S Taylor b Marsh 1
L. Doolan c S Taylor b Brunt 14
A. Watkins b Brunt 2
A. Satterthwaite c C Taylor b Shaw 19
R. Priest c and b Brunt 0
N. Browne b Shaw 1
S. McGlashan c Greenway b Gunn 9
S. Tsukigawa c S Taylor b Gunn 5
S. Devine run out (Greenway) 10
K. Pulford c Taylor b Edwards 14
S. Ruck not out 0
Extras b1, lb4, w4, nb1 10
Total all out, 20 overs 85
Fall of wkts 1-2, 2-10, 3-23, 4-23, 5-31, 6-48, 7-58, 8-62, 9-84, 10-85
Bowling
Marsh 4-0-16-1 (1w), Brunt 4-2-6-3, Shaw 4-0-17-2, Colvin 4-0-16-0 (3w), Gunn 3-0-19-2 (1nb), Edwards 1-0-6-1
Toss England
Scoreboard

Flair all round as Sri Lanka face Windies

West Indies are confident of chasing nearly any total in this event; Sri Lanka believe there is no score they can't defend. Clearly, something will have to give in their World Twenty20 semi-final.

Friday's match at the Oval sees two exciting sides up against one another and, while Sri Lanka will start favourites, the West Indies have shown that they are not to under-estimated.

Sri Lanka, who have an admirably well balanced side for cricket's shortest format, have yet to lose a match at this tournament.

In Sanath Jayasuriya, the man for whom the phrase 'explosive opener' might have been created, and the inventive Tillekaratne Dilshan, who every time he plays the 'Dilscoop' delights spectators and infuriates opponents in equal measure, they have a first-wicket partnership that can score rapidly.

Behind them come the likes of captain and wicket-keeper Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene, a pair of class batsmen.

But it is their bowling attack which has really proved a problem for most of their opponents at this tournament.

For years now batsmen around the world have found that scoring quickly against off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan is easier said than done.

But he has now been joined by Ajantha Mendis, a spinner who flicks the ball out of his fingers in a way not seen in international cricket since Australia's John Gleeson in the early 1970s and whose 'carrom ball' has left countless batsmen bemused.

"Murali can turn the ball on any surface," Jayawardene said of the star off-spinner, who is the world's highest wicket-taker in both Tests and one-day cricket. "And if Ajantha sticks to his plans, we have a fairly good chance of going all the way."

That bowlers are restricted to four overs each in this tournament works in Mendis's favour in that by the time batsmen have evolved some sort of plan to combat him, his spell is over.

He took three for nine against New Zealand at Trent Bridge on Tuesday in a match Sri Lanka won by 48 runs to secure their last four spot.

"Ajantha was brilliant," said Sangakkara. "He is very difficult to read and he has an attacking mindset. It's a great ability to have."

But it was at the Oval, a happy hunting ground for West Indies down the decades, that the men from the Caribbean beat Australia by seven wickets in their tournament opener.

That victory owed much to a quite brilliant 88 from West Indies captain Chris Gayle, the left-handed opener striking some of the biggest sixes ever seen at the south London venue.

Gayle has yet to hit such heights again at this competition but the knowledge of what he can do is enough to make most opponents pause for thought, although Sri Lanka's unorthodox Lasith Malinga is unlikely to be as easy to 'tee off' against on a bouncy pitch as was Australia fast bowler Brett Lee.

In the likes of Shivnarine Chanderpaul and Ramnaresh Sarwan, West Indies have batsmen capable of plugging the gap if Gayle fails, while Dwayne Bravo is a talented all-rounder and the leader in the field of a team capable of taking some spectacular catches.

No wonder Gayle said after his side's five-wicket Super Eights win over England at the Oval, a victory which took them into the last four: "To be honest with you, a lot of teams fear us.

"We were written off from the start of the tournament and we are actually in the semi-final. If you look at each and every one of our players, we are actually winners."

India keep England down to 153-7 in must-win game

Steady bowling by India restricted hosts England to 153-7 in a key Super Eights match of the World Twenty20 at Lord's here on Sunday.

Kevin Pietersen top-scored with 46 off 27 balls, with three fours and a six, after sharing a second-wicket stand of 71 with opener Ravi Bopara (37).

Off-spinner Harbhajan Singh picked up three wickets, but England's lower order retrieved the situation by adding 53 runs in the last five overs.

England's total was boosted by 16 extras, that included 14 wides.

India, the defending champions, need a win to stay in the tournament after losing their opening Super Eights match against the West Indies at Lord's on Friday.

England, who also lost their first match to South Africa, will remain in contention even if they lose, provided they beat the West Indies and hope the Proteas defeat India in the last match.

South Africa will then advance to the semi-finals with three wins, with England, India and the West Indies tied with one win each and left to battle net run-rates.

Pietersen and Bopara took charge after Luke Wright had fallen in the second over, top-edging a pull off Rudra Pratap Singh.

The duo brought up their 50 partnership off 35 balls before left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja broke the stand in his first over by bowling Bopara.

Jadeja, playing his first match in the tournament in place of Irfan Pathan, then claimed the dangerous Pietersen leg-before as the batsman attempted to sweep.

Harbhajan lured Owais Shah (12) to hole out to Jadeja on the mid-wicket fence before removing James Foster and Graeme Swann off successive deliveries.

"It's a good wicket to bat on and it's a total we can chase," said Harbhajan.

"The wicket is a little slower than the one we played on against the West Indies here, but in the evening the ball should come onto the bat."

Harbhajan said he was delighted to bowl the 'death' overs for India.

"You have to vary your pace, line and length in Twenty20 otherwise you will go for a lot of runs."

Yuvraj, Pietersen set to reignite war of words

India's Yuvraj Singh and England's Kevin Pietersen are poised to write a new chapter in their fierce on-field rivalry Sunday with a place in the World Twenty20 semi-finals at stake.

The two, big personalities have exchanged a series of verbal barbs with Pietersen describing Yuvraj as a "pie-chucker" and his bowling as "filth" during last year's Test and ODI series.

Big-hitting Yuvraj hit back by claiming that his ability to dismiss Pietersen five times meant he was a "useless batsman."

"If I get the chance I would love to bowl to him again and I am sure he would love to call me a pie-chucker again," said Yuvraj ahead of Sunday's match at Lord's.

It's a game both teams need to win after opening Super Eights defeats to South Africa and West Indies respectively.

"He's a great batsman and we always look forward to playing against each other and we're great friends off the field. We spur each other on, we both love doing that."

Yuvraj has enjoyed facing England.

He scored two centuries in last November's one-day series and famously smashed six sixes in an over off Stuart Broad at the last World Twenty20 in South Africa in 2007.

Westindies Vs India Photoes

Five-wicket Gul wrecks Kiwis

Umar Gul became the first bowler to claim five wickets in Twenty20 internationals as Pakistan shot New Zealand out for 99 in a must-win game at the world championships on Saturday.

Seamer Gul finished with amazing figures of five wickets for six runs in three overs to build on Abdur Razzaq's memorable return to official cricket after two years.

Scott Styris' 22 was New Zealand's top score on the easy-paced Oval wicket as eight batsmen failed to reach double figures.

Pakistan, who lost their first Super Eights match to Sri Lanka on Friday, need a win to keep their semi-final hopes alive.

New Zealand thrashed Ireland by 83 runs at Trent Bridge on Thursday and will virtually book a place in the last four if they beat Pakistan.

"It is important for me, the team and my country to perform well," said Gul.

"In Twenty20, you have to be able to bowl the yorker, bouncer and the slower ball. Now I want to be the highest wicket-taker in the tournament."

Razzaq, who last played for Pakistan in May 2007, grabbed a wicket off his fourth delivery and another one in his third over to reduce New Zealand to 37-3.

The 29-year-old was called up as a replacement for the injured Yasir Arafat after breaking links with the rebel Indian Cricket League.

Asked to open the bowling by captain Younus Khan, Razzaq had the dangerous Brendon McCullum caught at point before trapping Martin Guptill leg-before.

Gul, brought on as the sixth bowler, struck immediately as Shahid Afridi sprinted back from mid-on to catch Scott Styris (22) near the boundary.

The steady seamer claimed four of the last five wickets to leave Pakistan chasing a modest target of 5.5 runs an over.

Pakistan omitted opener Salman Butt to play 19-year-old rookie Shahzaib Hasan and brought in Razzaq in place of Sohail Tanvir.

New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori made his first appearance in the tournament following a shoulder injury, but batsman Ross Taylor again missed out with a hamstring strain.

South Africa's Parnell ahead of his time

Wayne Parnell's long-term aim when he was a junior international cricketer was to make sure he was in South Africa's 30-man squad for the 2011 World Cup in Asia.

It was fair to say, after the 19-year-old left-arm quick took four wickets for 13 runs in the Proteas' World Twenty20 win over the West Indies at the Oval here on Saturday, that the teenager was on course to achieve that goal.

Reflecting on his latest impressive display - which saw Parnell record the equal fifth-best Twenty20 international figures of all time - the modest paceman told reporters: "I was just backing my skills and staying calm."

He added there had been nothing spectacular about his introduction to cricket.

"I played in the park, played in the yard and then I moved on to the hard ball."

But Parnell was not just any old - or indeed young - schoolboy cricketer.

Educated at Port Elizabeth's Grey High School - whose former pupils also include South Africa greats Graeme and Peter Pollock, as well as current Proteas' off-spinner Johan Botha - much has long been expected of Parnell.

The leading South African schoolboy cricketer of his generation, Parnell captained South African schools for two years and in the process had to skipper players older than himself.

After leading South Africa to the Under-19 World Cup final in Malaysia last year, where they were beaten by India, Parnell was stunned to hear team coach Ray Jennings say his captain was ready for senior international cricket.

But the judgment of Jennings, a former coach of the South Africa Test side, was not long in being proved correct.

Parnell played the first of his four one-day internationals, all so far against Australia, in January this year.

And in only in his second match at that level he took four for 25 at Centurion - a haul including Australia captain Ricky Ponting and fellow top order batsmen Michael Clarke and Michael Hussey - in a seven-wicket win.

Earlier this season, a stint with English county side Kent - where former South Africa coach Graham Ford is in charge - saw Parnell familiarise himself with English conditions.

"Having played here prior to this tournament helped me get used to the pitches. But generally the white ball doesn't swing here so obviously I had to drag the length back a bit."

Parnell, who for several years has been logging the details of all the overs he's bowled, put that knowledge to good use earlier this week.

He took three wickets for just 14 runs against England as South Africa, unbeaten at the tournament so far, began their second round Super Eights programme with a crushing seven-wicket win over the hosts at Trent Bridge.

But new visa rules introduced by Britain's Home Office may prove a tougher nut to crack if Parnell is to play for Kent again this season - that is if South Africa let him.

"At the moment something has been put forward by Kent but the whole visa issue is probably the biggest challenge now," Parnell said.

Meanwhile, there remains one notable omission on Parnell's otherwise impressive CV.

He has yet to play Test cricket although a debut for the strong South Africa side in the five-day game would appear to be merely a matter of time.

"The biggest challenge for me will be bowling against the likes of Ricky Ponting (in a Test match)," he said. "Then I will see where I am."

Collingwood backs Broad in Yuvraj rematch

England skipper Paul Collingwood believes Stuart Broad will not be intimidated by India's Yuvraj Singh, the man who blasted six sixes in an over off him at the last World Twenty20 in 2007.

England and India clash at Lord's on Sunday in a crucial Super Eights match with both sides desperate for victory if they are to keep alive their semi-final hopes.

Broad's battle with Yuvraj will be key with memories still fresh of the mauling the Englishman received in Durban.

Yuvraj warmed up for Sunday's match by hammering 67 off 43 balls during the defending champions' shock defeat to West Indies on Friday.

"I saw some highlights the other day (of the Durban match) and it proved how raw he was at the time, but what he's done in the last couple of years has been exceptional," said Collingwood.

"Stuart's grown as a man, his skills are much better and his execution is much better. I'm sure he's absolutely relishing this competition that's going to come up tomorrow and I've got no doubts he'll be desperate to come on and bowl when he comes in.

"The last time he was trying to have an answer, but his execution on the day wasn't right.

"He was trying to get those yorkers in and didn't actually get it right, but I think he's proven over the last couple of years how versatile he is as a bowler.

"He can be a really good wicket-taking option but he can also stem the flow of runs. At the moment he's one of the most economical bowlers in the competition, which shows how far he's come as a bowler."

Both England and India need to win on Sunday.

England lost to South Africa in their Super Eights opener while India slumped to the West Indies.

England have a poor recent record against India with their last success in September 2007, when they claimed a seven-wicket victory at Lord's to claim a 4-3 series success as preparation for the 2007 World Twenty20 in South Africa.

Since then India have not lost to England in eight international matches in all forms, but Collingwood will be drawing inspiration from that victory at Lord's.

Asked why he believed England could end that losing run, Collingwood said: "We'll probably take our minds back to a performance we put in against them during that one-day series.

"I know it's a completely different format of the game but we were 3-3 at the time, it was a big pressure game and we came out and won well on that day.

"Sometimes we play our best cricket when we put ourselves under this sort of pressure. We take our minds back to that Pakistan game, the boys were so desperate to do well and stayed very calm about it.

"As a team we're very confident. I know we've had an up and down tournament so far but we're still in with a shout and we know we've got the players in the dressing room to put the performances in on the day."

Gibbs stars before Windies recover against Proteas

Herschelle Gibbs's 55 was the cornerstone of South Africa's 183 for seven against the West Indies in their World Twenty20 Super Eights match at the Oval here on Saturday.

South Africa, unbeaten at the tournament so far, were on course for a huge total while Jacques Kallis (45) and Gibbs were at the crease.

But they lost five wickets for 34 runs in 25 balls to give the West Indies hope of chasing down their score on a good batting pitch and fast outfield.

Fast bowler Jerome Taylor, whose second over cost 16 runs, fought back well to finish with three wickets for 30 runs in his maximum four overs.

West Indies, who'd beaten defending champions India by seven wickets in Friday's late game at Lord's, saw their seamers suffer early on

But spin, as it has so often done at this tournament, yielded a wicket.

Left-armer Sulieman Benn troubled Graeme Smith before the South Africa captain steered him straight to Andre Fletcher at point. Smith's 31 came off 18 balls with six fours.

Another fifty stand, between Kallis and Gibbs kept the runs coming briskly before Kallis holed out off medium-pacer Lendl Simmons to Kieron Pollard for a 31-ball 45.

Gibbs pressed on, hoisting Simmons for a huge six over wide long-on. But soon after completing a 33-ball fifty, featuring that six and seven fours, Gibbs exited when he chipped Pollard to Taylor at mid-on.

That left South Africa 136 for three in the 15th over but the West Indies' revival saw them fall short of 200.

"The wicket was a little on the slow side, back of a length, but generally it was quite a good wicket," said Gibbs who said the run spree dried up later due to his lower order colleagues having had little time in the middle.

"Some of the guys haven't batted that much so they may have been rusty. Maybe some of us went too early."

SCOREBOARD

South Africa
G. Smith c Fletcher b Benn 31
J. Kallis c Pollard b Simmons 45
H. Gibbs c Taylor b Pollard 55
AB de Villiers c Gayle b Taylor 17
A. Morkel b Taylor 10
M. Boucher not out 17
JP Duminy c Sarwan b Edwards 0
R. van der Merwe c Ramdin b Taylor 1
J. Botha not out 4
Extras (lb1, w2) 3
Total (7 wkts, 20 overs) 183

Did not bat: W Parnell, D Steyn

Fall of wickets: 1-54, 2-105, 3-136, 4-155, 5-159, 6-163, 7-166

Bowling:
Taylor 4-0-30-3
Edwards 4-0-34-1
Bravo 2-0-24-0
Benn 4-0-36-1
Pollard 3-0-29-1
Gayle 1-0-7-0
Simmons 2-0-22-1

Toss: West Indies

Umpires: Aleem Dar (PAK) and Mark Benson (ENG)

TV umpire: Rod Tucker (AUS)

Match referee: Ranjan Madugalle (SRI)

West Indies field against South Africa

West Indies captain Chris Gayle won the toss and elected to field against South Africa in their ICC World Twenty20 Group E Super Eights match at the Oval here on Saturday.

South Africa, unbeaten at the tournament so far, were unchanged from the side that defeated England by seven wickets at Trent Bridge on Thursday while the West Indies retained the same side that beat defending champions India, also by seven wickets, at Lord's on Friday.

Teams

South Africa: Graeme Smith (capt), Jacques Kallis, Herschelle Gibbs, AB de Villiers, JP Duminy, Albie Morkel, Mark Boucher (wkt), Johan Botha, Wayne Parnell, Dale Steyn, Roelof van der Merwe

West Indies: Chris Gayle (capt), Andre Fletcher, Ramnaresh Sarwan, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Denesh Ramdin (wkt), Sulieman Benn, Dwayne Bravo, Fidel Edwards, Kieron Pollard, Lendl Simmons, Jerome Taylor

Umpires: Aleem Dar (PAK) and Mark Benson (ENG)

TV umpire: Rod Tucker (AUS)

Match referee: Ranjan Madugalle (SRI)

Bravo inspired by IPL pyrotechnics

West Indies star Dwayne Bravo believes skills picked up at the Indian Premier League, while his teammates were suffering a Test mauling in England, will be crucial in their World Twenty20 title push.

Bravo took four wickets and then smashed a stylish, unbeaten 66 as West Indies cruised to a seven-wicket victory over defending champions India at Lord's to boost their hopes of reaching the semi-finals.

He was promoted up the order to No 4 on Friday and was glad to have seized his chance.

"I just have a love and passion for the game," Bravo said. "I enjoy playing cricket. This is what I was born to do. I was given the opportunity by the captain to go up the order, I grabbed it with both hands."

Bravo came into this tournament on the back of a stint with the Mumbai Indians in the IPL, having missed West Indies' unsuccessful tour of England because he wasn't deemed fit enough for Tests following an ankle injury.

"This is my second stint in the IPL, I gained a lot of experience both times. Sharing the same dressing room with some of the best players in the world, you've got to learn a lot. I think that's what I did.

"Since I returned from injury, I have been working very hard at my game and it is nice to see the hard work paying off."

"We are a young team but this is a team that is willing to learn and really looking forward to this tournament."

Meanwhile West Indies captain Chris Gayle challenged his side to overcome the handicap of a congested fixture schedule and repeat their win over India against South Africa.

The West Indies held India to 153 for seven before Bravo saw them home.

But having played in Friday's late game at Lord's they will find themselves in action again in the earlier of two fixtures across London at the Oval on Saturday.

By contrast, tournament favourites South Africa had a day off Friday.

"It would be nice if we could have another evening game," said Gayle.

"We'll just have to set our minds, put this behind us and focus on tomorrow. It's difficult. You might look at it and say it's a Twenty20 but this format of the game is draining mentally.

"We will just have to switch on as quickly as possible."

Medium-pacer Bravo took four for 38 after fast bowler Fidel Edwards had put India on the backfoot with early wickets on his way to fine figures of three for 24.

Hearteningly for the West Indies, this match also showed they could win matches in this format without a major contribution from opening batsman Gayle, dismissed for 22 against India.

Bravo added: "It's nice to see someone actually put up their hand, take the game into their own hands.

"Yes we depend on Chris to get a good start but this is cricket, it doesn't happen all the time. He's in good form and we know before this tournament is over he's going to come good again.

"Our captain had the confidence to shuffle the batting order and we still got the job done. It doesn't matter what number I bat."

Gayle, who hammered 88 in the group win over Australia, said the sometimes wayward Edwards had played a crucial role.

"We had that tremendous start from Fidel Edwards, picking up wickets at the top of the order made it difficult for them to get off to a flyer."

There was also a marked improvement in West Indies' fielding. Not only did Lendl Simmons, who later weighed in with 44, take a brilliant catch running backwards to get rid of Gautam Gambhir, but West Indies' ground fielding was impressive too.

"We have had a discussion about our fielding," Gayle revealed. "We did more catching drills during our warm-up. It's not like we are not working on our fielding, we know it's our downfall. We just have to keep working."