Boeta Dippenaar led a spirited South African recovery to help the host nation post 254 for eight in their World Cup Pool B cricket match against Canada at Buffalo Park on Thursday.
Dippenaar, batting for only the second time this tournament, made 80 to set the Canadians an asking rate of 5,1 runs to the over. While Dippenaar provided the stability, Shaun Pollock and Andrew Hall provided the fireworks at the close of the innings.
Pollock thumped 32 in 23 balls while Hall made an unbeaten 22 from 11 balls. Even Makhaya Ntini was able to get in on the act, driving a ball out of the ground in making 14 from six balls.
South Africa had earlier slumped to 23 for three and were facing the embarrassment of being skittled by a truly minor cricketing nation, before Dippenaar set about repairing the damage with Graeme Smith. The pair put on 109 for the fourth wicket before John Davison, the South Australian off spinner, bowled Smith for 63.
After a sluggish start at a ground where Smith had made a double hundred against Bangladesh earlier in the summer, the left hander came into his own. He looked set to make his maiden one day international hundred when he completely missed the Davison delivery.
Fortunately for the homeside, Dippenaar continued to hold the innings together. Like Smith, Dippenaar too looked likely to cash in on an extremely limited Canadian attack when he scooped a half volley straight to short fine leg.
His dismissal though brought Hall to the wicket to join Pollock and, finally, some explosive batting. – Sapa