South Africa and New Zealand both teams started their super eights campaign with an easy win over England and Ireland
South Africa v England – Kallis and Parnell star in an easy win
An all-round performance by veteran Jaques Kallis gives South Africa an easy win over England in their first Super Eights game. Kallis first picks up two crucial wickets with ball to help South Africa to restrict them to 111 runs in 20 overs and then J.Kallis scored an unbeaten 57 in just 49 balls to chase down the score without any pressure.
By the todays performance against England, South Africa showed that they are getting better game-by-game and is side to beat for any team at the moment. Dale Steyn and Wayne Parnell set the tone with wickets in their opening overs and were backed up by impressive spin and fine catching, particularly RE van der Merwe's effort to remove Kevin Pietersen.
After electing to bat first England got off to worst start as they lost three quick wickets inside first six overs including the wicket of K.Pietersen and they never recover from that. Their run-rates always hover around 5.5 and 6 runs per over. Only O.Shah made a significant contribution for England as he made 38 off 33 with two sixes, but it was a forlorn effort as wickets fell regularly.
At the end of six over England score was looking 25/3 and from then onwards South African twin spinner not allowed English batsman to get away what they would liked. In the end young lad Parnell finished the job brilliantly by picking up two wickets in two balls to bowl out England in 19.5 overs for 111.
South Africa started their run chase with cautiously but they never allow required run rate to jump over six and in the end they chase down the score quite easily with 10 balls to spare.
Now South Africa will take on West Indies on Saturday while England will take on India on Sunday.
Jaques Kallis was declared Player-of-the-Match for his all-round performance.
Match Summary (South Africa won by 7 Wickets)
England – 111/10 in 19.5 Overs
O.Shah- 38K.Pietersen –19
W.Parnell– 3.5-0-14-3J.Kallis- 3-0-20-2
South Africa– 114/3 in 18.2 Overs
J.Kallis- 57*H.Gibbs–30
S.Broad – 3-0-14-1A.Rashid- 4-0-24-1
England v South Africa Super Eights Highlights
New Zealand v Ireland – Redmond blistering knock demolish Ireland
A.Redmond played a brilliant knock of 63 runs in just 30 balls to help New Zealand to register an easy win in their Super Eights game against Ireland. Initially Redmond was not in the squad but due to Jesse Ryder injury he is called as replacement for explosive opener.
He justified his selection as he smashed the Irish bowler’s right from the start. Aaron Redmond made a memorable return to international cricket with a blistering knock as New ZealandIreland by 83 runs spanked minnows
New Zealand first rattled up a healthy 198/5 in their 20 overs with the help of flourish start given by Redmond and then bundle out Ireland for just 115 runs in 16.4 overs to register an easy win.
A.Botha (28 runs of 17 balls) and opener G.Wilson (23 runs of 28 balls) were the only two Irish players who could hang around for some time while most of the other batsmen folded up without much of a fight.
