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AB de Villiers struck an unbeaten 10th ODI century to guide South Africa to a comfortable 7-wicket win in the Group B Match against West Indies yesterday at Delhi. South Africa needed a modest target of 223 thanks to a wonderful spell of bowling from debutant leg spinner Imran Tahir who captured 4 for 41. The target was chased down with 43 balls to spare with AB de Villiers striking 107* from 105 balls with 8 fours and 2 sixes.
West Indies who were asked to bat first after losing the toss saw the big wicket of Chris Gayle falling in the very first over of the match. Interestingly both the sides had a spinner bowling the first over of the innings – for SA, it was Johan Botha and for Windies, it was Sulieman Benn. West Indies got back on track twice in their innings – first a 111-run stand for the 2nd wicket and later on a 58-run stand for the 5th wicket. But South Africa took wickets in bunches to keep the total under a check.
Dale Steyn wrapped up the West Indies innings with 3 wickets in his second spell once leg spinner Imran Tahir had taken care of the middle order. There were flashes of brilliance in the West Indian innings which came from no.3 left handed Darren Bravo who top scored with 73 from 82 balls with 8 fours and a six and his brother Dwayne Bravo who scored 40 from just 37 balls with a four and 3 sixes. Unfortunately Dwayne Bravo was carried off the field in the second half when he twisted his knee while trying to put in a diving stop off his own bowling.
AB de Villiers who carried South Africa from a shaky position of 20 for 2 to a victory was named as the Man of the Mach.