South Africa registered a comfortable 7-wicket victory over the West Indies in their first match of the ICC World Cup 2011 at the Feroz Shah Kotla, New Delhi.
Graeme Smith won the toss and put West Indies to bat first. Johan Botha opened the bowling and struck immediately removing the dangerous Chris Gayle (2) off his third ball. Gayle was caught at first slip by Jacques Kallis when he tried play a delivery to the leg side.
Darren Bravo and Devon Smith raised 111 runs for the second wicket before Botha struck again to remove Bravo. Bravo top-scored for the Windies with a 82-ball 73 runs that included eight fours and a six. Imran Tahir, who made his debut today, picked up Smith (36) and Ramnaresh Sarwan (2) in successive overs as West Indies lost three wickets for just seven runs.
Shivnarine Chanderpaul (31) and Dwayne Bravo (40) prevented a collapse with a 58-run partnership for the fifth wicket. Bravo hit a 37-ball 40 runs with three sixes and a four. Kieron Pollard and skipper Darren Sammy were out for ducks and West Indies were all out for 222 runs in the 48th over.
For South Africa, Imran Tahir (4/41) and Dale Steyn (3/24) were the chief wicket-takers while Botha (2/58) justified his opening the bowling.
With only a modest 223 runs to defend, West Indies removed Hashim Amla (14) and Jacques Kallis (4) with just 20 runs on the board. Graeme Smith and AB de Villiers then raised a quick 119 runs for the third wicket before Smith was bowled by Pollard for 45 runs that came from 78 balls.
AB de Villiers was mainstay of the South African batting today as he brought up his 10th ODI hundred and his second in the World Cups. He brought up 100 from just 97 balls and remained unbeaten on 107 runs that included eight fours and two sixes.
He raised 84 runs for the undefeated fourth wicket with JP Duminy remained unbeaten on 42 runs as the Proteas reached their target in the 43rd over. AB De Villiers was declared the player of the match for his brilliant hundred.