World Cup 2015 Match 19 South Africa v West Indies Review; AB de Villiers does it again

World Cup 2015 Match 19 South Africa v West Indies Review; AB de Villiers does it again: The last time South Africa and West Indies met before the World cup was in South Africa for a 5 match ODI series and a match at Johannesburg turned out to be a record fest. South Africa had scored 439/2, AB de Villiers made the fastest century. Here today, it was the World Cup version of that match.

AB de Villiers won the toss and South Africa batted first. Quinton de Kock got out early again after hitting 3 great shots for 4. But Hashim Amla (65) and Faf du Plessis (62) brought South Africa back on track with some sensible batting. Rilee Russouw was promoted to number 4 and he proved that promotion correct by making 61 off 39 balls.

The star of the match was once again AB de Villiers who had failed against India in the last match. AB de Villiers walked in to bat in the 30th over and just took the game away and away from West Indies. He pierced the field with surgeon like precision and spared no bowler. He took a specific affinity to his Windies counterpart Jason Holder. Holder who had given just 40 runs off his 8 overs, went for 64 runs in his last 2 overs to become the first West Indian bowler to give away 100 runs in his 10 overs despite 2 maiden overs. No West Indian bowler had any answer to his array of shots and big hitting.

De Villiers scored his 100 off just 52 balls and made the fastest 150 off just 64 balls. He ended on 162*, his highest ODI score and his 3rd century against West Indies in World Cup matches.

The West Indians were not expected to chase the 408, but were expected to give a fight. But that ray of hope diminished early in the innings when Kyle Abbott dismissed the previous match heroes Chris Gayle and Marlon Samuels in one over. After losing these 2 wickets, West Indies gave up the fight entirely and slumped to 63/7 in the 18th over. A spirited partnership between Denesh Ramdin (22) and Captain Jason Holder (56) took West Indies to 108 runs. Some lustier hitting by Holder took West Indies to 151 runs in 33 overs before they were bowled out. South Africa won the match by record equaling 257 runs.

South African bowling was led by leg spinner Imran Tahir who took a career best 5/45 runs including wickets of Dwayne Smith (31), Denesh Ramdin (22) and Lendl Simmons (0). He got great support from Kyle Abbott who took wickets of Chris Gayle and Marlon Samuels. The South African bowling looked back in form after looking out of sorts against India.

South Africa will now face Ireland in Canberra, while West Indies will face a more tougher test against a more in-form India at Perth. (List of Records made by AB de Villiers and South Africa vs West Indies)

AB de Villiers got the Man of match for his record making 162*.

Brief Scores:
South Africa 408/5 (AB de Villiers 162*, H Amla 65; A Russell 2/74) defeated West Indies 151 33.1 overs (J Holder 56, D Smith 31; I Tahir 5/45) by 257 runs.