Ton up de Villiers leads SA to victory over WI
New Delhi: AB de Villiers hit a quickfire century to back up a promising performance from South African spinners as the Proteas cruised to a seven-wicket win over West Indies at the World Cup on Thursday.
De Villiers lifted his team from 20-2 with his unbeaten 107 from 105 balls, sharing a 119-run partnership with skipper Graeme Smith (45) as one of the title favorites opened with a comfortable victory in Group B.
outh Africa ended 223-3, overhauling West Indies' 222 all out with 7.1 overs to spare. JP Duminy was 42 not out.
Leg spinner Imran Tahir earlier claimed 4-41 on his competitive debut for South Africa and offspinner Johan Botha had 2-48 to rein the West Indies in after it had been 113-1 and 178-4.
Darren Bravo top scored for West Indies with 73 before Tahir, Botha and Dale Steyn (3-24) hit back.
The right-handed De Villiers controlled the century partnership with Smith and then an unbeaten stand of 84 with Duminy to take South Africa sailing home after the early loss of Hashim Amla and Jacques Kallis.
Amla was caught brilliantly off an inside edge by wicketkeeper Devon Thomas and Kallis departed soon after to a catch at slip off spinner Suleiman Benn.
The right-handed De Villiers flayed three fours through the covers off Kemar Roach in the eighth over to kickstart a stuttering Proteas reply, and never looked back.
Tahir had run through the West Indies' top and middle order and offspinner Johan Botha claimed two wickets, including the wicket of Chris Gayle in the first over, as the Proteas' unusually spin-heavy attack shone at the Feroz Shah Kotla stadium.
Paceman Dale Steyn cleaned up the tail.
The South African bowlers twice fought back strongly after a stroke-filled half-century from 22-year-old Darren Bravo and 40 from 37 balls from half brother Dwayne had West Indies in handy positions at 113-1 and then 178-4.
Dwayne Bravo was run out and West Indies lost its last five wickets for just 13 runs.
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