West Indies captain Dwayne Bravo says the pressure will be on “chokers” South Africa in their decisive Champions Trophy game. The winners of the Group B match in Cardiff on Friday will secure a place in the semi-finals alongside India.
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“I think the South Africans will feel the pressure,” said Bravo. “They know if they lose, they are going back home.
“They have a tag of being chokers that do not do well in big tournaments, so that would be added pressure on them.”
West Indies won the World Twenty20 last October, but have lost the last 12 one-day meetings with South Africa, dating back to 2006.
“We’re going to enjoy the occasion and forget about what happens in previous games,” added all-rounder Bravo, whose side opened the tournament with a two-wicket win over Pakistan before losing by eight wickets to India.
“It’s a tournament. It’s a knockout game. We’ve been in this situation before and done well, so no pressure is on us.
“I’m not worried about the record of the previous games. I’m really excited and looking forward to this game tomorrow.”
South Africa Test captain Graeme Smith, who is not part of the one-day squad because of an ankle injury, responded to Bravo’s comments by writing on Twitter: “Never mind pressure on Proteas, Dwayne Bravo just put it all on himself! Not the smartest move from him I reckon.”
Captain AB de Villiers looks set to be able to call of Dale Steyn for the first time in the tournament, after the pace bowler missed the opening defeat by India and the victory over Pakistan with a side strain.
“He bowled at 100% intensity yesterday [Wednesday], and it was sort of the first part of his fitness assessment and today he’s doing a bit more,” said De Villiers.
“He’s 99.9% ready, but we’re just going to make sure that he’ll be ready to go.
“It’s almost a yes, just not yet. Just got to wait a few hours and then we’ll make the final call, but it’s looking good.”
Champions Trophy Group B
| P | W | L | N/R | Pts | NRR | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| India | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 4 | +0.98 |
| South Africa | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | +0.41 |
| West Indies | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | -0.09 |
| Pakistan | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | -1.11 |
All Blacks had their chokers tag too. They struggled to break it in 2011 and were lucky, so why not us or do we have to wait a little bit longer
The team is full of new faces so lets hope they just do their own thing
Putting money on them?
The Champions Trophy match between SA and Windies in Cardiff has not started yet due to rain.
A no result would suit SA better and surely see us through. However, seems like the covers are off and the sun is out and if the game started in about half an hours time there would be around 35 overs each team. My fear is the shorter the game is the more it favours the Windies, it would give them fewer overs to face our top bowlers and they have a far more explosive hitter in Chris Gayle than anyone in SA team, I know AB de Villiers is also very good in the short format but think Gayle is better plus Gayle comes in at the start of a game and AB in middle order so this gives Gayle more time for his hitting…hope he has an off day today.
They will do the toss at 1.15 UK time just under 10 minutes time and barring any further delays/interruptions it will be a 36 over a side game.
1 @ superBul:
Hi superBul not been watching cricket closely enough lately to put any money on it. What was encouraging for me is how the newer bowlers fared in the absence of Steyn and Morkel in the last game.
West Indies won the toss… and then the covers came back on… eish
Seems SA will bat first…. if the game gets underway.
In a shortened game, would have preferred us to bowl first
6 @ grootblousmile:
Yes not looking good GBS, not sure how many overs it can be reduced to for the game to still continue.
7 @ grootblousmile:
Ahh but have you forgotten the D/L fiasco of a World Cup back then when we were chasing?
8 @ Bullscot:
Don’t think it can go less than 20 overs a side.
Thing is the rain looks to be moving through so should stop in a bit so hopefully if the field not too wet they will get started, but after a bit of gap looks like more rain which could move up over Cardiff as well…
10 @ grootblousmile:
Thanks so that’s about two hours more they can lose before it would be called off, let me guess the game won’t be completed in that case.
Game due to start 2.30 now 6 minutes time
Game has indeed started, and started slowly for the SA batsmen.
5 / 0 after 2 overs.
Now a 4 from the 1st ball of the 3rd over by Ingram.
SA 9 / 0 after 2.1 overs
Looks like the game has been reduced to 31 overs a side
SA batsmen must push hard early, to make the Duckworth / Lewis possibility also very difficult for the Windies, because it looks like it might very well come into reconing
SA 34/0 after 6 overs and 4 balls, Ingram on 22 and Amla on 8
Got to get AB in should any wicket fall
SA 59 / 0 after 10 overs
SA 80 / 0 after 12 overs
Ingram goes to 50 with this last 4
Amla out, 80 / 1
SA 91/1 off 14 overs, Ingram 57 off 50 balls at the crease with AB de Villiers on 5
Rain an hour or less away from Cardiff
SA 155/4 in 23rd over
207/4 after 29 overs
Innings break
hello dollies, of is dit trollies
game on again , let us see who chokes
Okay, not raining now. South Africa are warming up. But if West Indies are batting well and get only 17 overs or so of batting before rain arrives, they will know they have only their own over-rate to blame. This match should been over by 7.15pm, and if we are going to get 31 overs in we will go well past 7.15pm. I am not sure what the rule regarding this is
Okay the players are out. The flood lights are on. Gayle and Charles are the openers. Gayle is taking first strike. And he is facing, surprise, surprise, Duminy. A slip in place
End of over 2 (2 runs) West Indies 10/0 (222 runs required from 29 overs, RR: 5.00, RRR: 7.65)
J Charles 8* (9b 1×4) LL Tsotsobe 1-0-2-0
CH Gayle 2* (3b) JP Duminy 1-0-8-0
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