CricketViewer.com

“Chokers” choked again in the semi finals. South Africa strangled them selves in a spectacular way. To add insult to injury the well-oiled bowling attack of Australia, in a clinical display, crushed the Protean bones ignominiously. A target of 150 by South Africa was never going to pose too many problems, not really with Hayden’s calculated 41 runs and Clarke’s brilliant 60. Ricky Ponting (22) and Symonds(18) also chipped in to hammer the final nails. The fans in Beausejour Cricket Ground, Gros Islet, St Lucia went back to their nests, as the match ended when still 111 balls were remaining.

Graeme Smith and AB de Villiers started off their batting in a very ordinary way. To the dismay of some, and to the amazement of many, South Africa was hell bent on a flying start from the onset, regardless of the pitch condition or merit of the ball. This burned them very badly. Smith was the first causality, he tried to advance down the wicket and Bracken sent him where he belonged 10 minutes ago. Smith was dizzy when he saw his bails flying in the air. Kallis, the so-called premier batsman of South Africa copied the script posted by his captain and came down advancing down the wicket in front of old timer McGrath and lost his off stump and dignity.

Baby-face AB de Villiers, was meanwhile trying his best to play his natural aggressive game, he even managed to play some magnificent shots, especially his pull shot to McGrath was a class act. Along with him, Gibbs tried to erect some barriers, but the way AB was batting his dismissal was on the cards. Shaun Tait got him with the support of Gilchrist just when he was looking somewhat settled after making 15 runs.

While Gibbs was standing there, he saw carnage in making. Both Ashwell Prince and Boucher gunned down brutally by veteran shooter Glenn McGrath for weeping ducks. Ashwell Prince must be kicking himself after chasing a delivery which was safely wide. Mark Boucher was livid with his luck, when he succumbed to a perfect delivery. In the illustrious career by this power horse, this was yet another defining moment. Then a partnership between Gibbs and Kemp, which lasted for 60 runs, added a tiny shade of color to the otherwise bland semi final. Kemp, on various occasions tried to cut loose according to his instinct, but was contained by spot-on bowling and mercurial fielding. The last rays of hope ended with the departure of Gibbs by the hands of Tait. Then it was all house of cards. Andrew Hall and Shaun Pollock went cheaply, and so were the rest of SA batting.

Though every Aussie bowler was a start in his own, Shaun Tait and McGrath detonated the lines of South African batting. In his 8 overs, McGrath’s economy was just 2.25 with 3 wickets and 1 maiden, while Tait applied 10 sparkling overs and given away 39 wickets and managed to snatch 4 wickets. Bracken, Watson and Hogg got one reward each.

A target of 150 was always going to be within Australia’s range and they went about hunting it down with the ease associated with a stroll in the park. Hayden went about his business in a composed manner, putting away the wayward deliveries, clipping effortlessly off his pads and handling the pacers with ease. He shimmied down the track towards the latter part of his innings, lofting fabulous shots with minimum fuss. Clarke also joined the party in a grand style and didn’t give much regard to any bowler.

With a trademark cool, composure, and calculation Australia is getting ready to take on Sri Lanka in the majestic final of this world cup of 2007.