INDIA: CRICKET - South African captain Graeme Smith praises players for defeat of Pakistan in ongoing Champions Trophy cricket tournament

Record ID: 1374356

  • Title: INDIA: CRICKET - South African captain Graeme Smith praises players for defeat of Pakistan in ongoing Champions Trophy cricket tournament
  • Date: 28th October 2006
  • Summary: MOHALI, PUNJAB, INDIA (OCTOBER 27, 2006) (ANI) SOUTH AFRICAN CRICKET CAPTAIN GRAEME SMITH ARRIVING FOR A POST-MATCH NEWS CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE - AUDIO AS INCOMING) (English) GRAEME SMITH, SOUTH AFRICAN CRICKET CAPTAIN, SAYING: "Again, I think the trust is in yo ur players and the players really stood up������� and Kemp and Boucher stood up for us. It took a l
  • Embargoed: 12th November 2006 11:42
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  • Location: India
  • Country: India
  • Topics: Sport
  • Reuters ID: LVA1Z7XX91WG2KT62O5AD7PH6JO8
  • Aspect Ratio: 4:3
  • Story Text: South African captain Graeme Smith on Friday (October 27) praised teammates Justin Kemp and Mark Boucher for their strong innings in South Africa's 124- run victory over Pakistan in Mohali that earned them a semifinal berth in the ongoing Champions Trophy cricket tournament.
    "Again, I think the trust is in yo ur players and the players really stood up������� and Kemp and Boucher stood up for us. It took a lot of heart and character to get us to the total�������and I think that's what the team's all about at the moment�������and I really, really put them out there today." Smith told a post-match press conference.
    Pakistan were bowled out for 89 in only 25 overs to record their lowest one-day total against South Africa, who claimed their second victory in Group B.
    Pakistan had begun the match in fine style, as paceman Umar Gul grabbed two wickets in the opening over while seam bowler Rao Iftikhar picked up two more from successive overs as South Africa slumped to 42 for 5.
    Wicketkeeper Mark Boucher (69) and all rounder Justin Kemp (64) then put on 131 for the sixth wicket to lead South Africa to 213 for eight.
    Boucher, who struck his 20th one-day fifty, and Kemp remained together for over 30 overs until they were both out in the final overs.
    When Pakistan batted, Ntini struck with speed and guile, scalping 5 for 21 to script what has been Pakistan most dismal batting performances in recent times.
    Pakistan coach Bob Woolmer said there was no excuse for irresponsible shot selection by his wards.
    "I thought it was a very poor batting performance. I thought our fielding and bowling were excellent, much better than the previous game against New Zealand, but the batting was abject and disappointing������� all be it on a difficult surface. It wasn't an easy surface by any stretch of the imagination, but I don't think our shot selection was very good. Certainly, there is room for tremendous amount of improvement." he said.
    Ntini struck with his second delivery of the match when he had Mohammad Hafeez caught at slip for one. Imran Farhat also slashed a short delivery to third man when he was on seven.
    The paceman then claimed two wickets in one over to remove captain Younis Khan (7) and Shoaib Malik (0). Younis top-edged an attempted pull while Malik went to a stunning leg-side catch from Boucher.
    Ntini's fifth wicket came when he trapped Kamran Akmal lbw for one, completing his fourth five-wicket haul in one-dayers and leaving Pakistan on 27-6 after 10 overs.
    Despite some resistance from Yasir Arafat who made 27, three wickets from Charl Langeveldt completed South Africa's victory, with Ntini fittingly catching Arafat off Langeveldt on the boundary to seal the win.
    With only two pool matches to go in the Champions Trophy, South Africa, Sri Lanka and New Zealand are already through to the semifinals stage.
    The winner of Sunday's clash between India and Australia would be the fourth team to complete the semifinals line up.
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