World Cup, South Africa vs UAE as it happened: South Africa thump UAE by 146 runs

Man of the Match – AB De Villiers: It was hard work. They made it difficult for us. I was happy with the way we fought throughout. I won’t say it is simple, but I try to keep it simple. Not always easy to play against a team not as good as you usually play. Was important for me to stick to my gameplans. Never a given that you will make the quarter-final so a big moment for us. We are representing our country in a knockout match in a World Cup. I think in Sydney. I’ll wait for the crunch time in the knockout to bowl my overs. It was an opportunity to give some of the part-timer bowlers a run so we took it. Not a given that we will play five bowlers in the quarterfinal.

Tauqir: We bowled well until 44-45 overs. In batting it was a good knock by Swapnil Patil. We batted almost 50 overs which has given us a lot of confidence. They have got some amazing bowlers. We are not used to playing this kind of bowlers. A lot of confidence almost playing out 50 overs.

South Africa won 4 out of 6 matches, all while batting first. They lost the two while chasing!

That’s it! South Africa beat UAE by 146 runs and qualify for quarters.

OUT! Philander has the last man – Shahzad caught at mid on. Alhashmi didn’t come out to bat as he was injured. 

A clinical performance from South Africa. De Villiers led he way with 99 and two wickets. His 108-run stand with Miller set the platform for a big score and then Behardien blasted 31-ball 64 to Power South Africa to a mammoth 341. In Reply, UAE never got the momentum going. Morkel bowled a fiery first spell and pegged UAE back. Anwar and Swapnil provided some resistance but it was always out of their hands with the asking rate climbing steadily and wickets falling at the other end.

OUT! Steyn finally gets a wicket. He cleans up Tauqir. Mohammad Tauqir b Steyn 3 (16b 0x4 0x6). After 46 overs, UAE 189/8 ( Swapnil 51)

Steyn gets a wicket in his 9th over. A cross-seam good length delivery on middle, Tauqir backs away and throws the kitchen sink at it but misses. The ball rattles the timber. 

Kamran Shahzad is the new batsman.

FIFTY for Swapnil!

Swapnil reaches his 50 off 93 balls. A fighting innings from him. Just four 4s in his innings.

After 45 overs, UAE 186/7 (Swapnil 48, Tauqir 3)

Swapnil is fighting it out in the middle. He lofts one over extra cover for a four off Tahir. Since then, he’s dealing in singles. Steyn is still struggling to take wickets. Tauqir throws kitchen sink at a couple but misses. Swapnil will be eyeing his fifty here. He is on 48 right now. Morkel has been bowling really well and peppering Tauqir with short stuff. Amazingly, he hasn’t been hit for a boundary off the bat so far!

After 40 overs, UAE 166/7 (Swapnil 35, Tauqir 1)

A decent Batting Powerplay for UAE, thanks to Mohammad Naveed. He at first hammers Philander over covers for a boundary and then takes on Steyn.
He at first gets an outside edge over the slip cordon for a streaky four and then clobbers Steyn over deep mid-wicket for a massive maximum. Philander finally gets his man as Naveed top edges his pull.  36/1 in the Batting Powerplay.

OUT! Naveed’s cameo comes to an end. Mohammad Naveed c de Villiers b Philander 17 (15b 2×4 1×6) . After 39.2 overs, UAE 163/7 (Swapnil 34)

Short of a length delivery on off from Philander. Naveed stays in his crease and looks to pull but gets a top edge high in the air. Ab De Villiers settles under it and takes a good catch. 

Mohammad Tauqir is the new batsman.

I think it is fair to say AB likes to bowl! And I think it is fair to say he wouldn't have got a bowl in any other South African team!

— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) March 12, 2015

AB de Villiers has taken 4 wickets in #CWC15, more than Broad (3), Afridi (2), Herath(3) and Shakib (3). #SAvUAE

— Cricbuzz (@cricbuzz) March 12, 2015

After 35 overs, UAE 130/6 (Swapnil 25, Naveed 0)

UAE have lost their way completely, they have managed just 22 for the loss of two wickets in the last five overs. Swapnil is playing at snail’s pace. De Villiers is enjoying his time with a 99 and two wickets now. There are hight chances that Alhashmi who got injured earlier, might not come out to bat so the Proteas need just three wickets to win.

OUT! De Villiers gets his 2nd wkt. Javed is gets a top edge on his pull to mid-wicket. Amjad Javed c sub (WD Parnell) b de Villiers 5 (4b 1×4 0x6) . After 34.2 overs, UAE 121/5 ( Swapnil 20)

It’s the same way De Villiers got Haider out. Short on off, Javed goes for a pull but gets a top edge to mid-wicket. Parnell (sub) settles under it but fumbles. But he does well to grab it on the 4th attempt. 

Mohamad Naveed is the new batsman.

OUT! Rossouw takes another brilliant catch. De Villiers removes Haider. Saqlain Haider c Rossouw b de Villiers 7 (12b 1×4 0x6) . After 32.4 overs, UAE 118/5 (Swapnil 19)

Rossouw is having a brilliant time in the field. De Villiers drops it short on off, Haider rocks back for a pull but gets a top edge to deep mid-wicket. Rossouw runs to his right, then forward, dives and pouches it inches above the ground. Brilliant catch. UAE losing plot rapidly now. 

Amjad Javed is the new batsman.

After 30 overs, UAE 108/4 (Swapnil 16, Haider 0)

Just when it looked like Anwar was lookign ominous, Tahir gets rid of him. Anwar was playing some smashing shots. He treated Philander with disdain as he charged down the track and pulled him over mid-wicket for a boundary.  And then again dances down and hammers it through extra cover. he then swept Tahir to fine leg for a boundary but then departed off the same bowler. He was finding it a tad difficult to read Tahir’s googly. Swapnil, meanwhile, is content with singles. 25/1 in the last five overs.

OUT! Tahir gets the dangerman! Shaiman Anwar c Rossouw b Imran Tahir 39 (64b 5×4 0x6) , After 30 overs, UAE 108/4 (Swapnil 16)

It’s full on middle and off, Shaiman Anwar gets down and goes for a slog sweep but doesn’t connect it well and helps it straight into the hands of Rossouw at deep mid-wicket. He is disappointed with himself and trudges off. 

Saqlain Haider is the new batsman.

After 25 overs, UAE 83/3 ( Anwar 23, Swapnil 12)

UAE finally get some sort of momentum and boundary after ages! Swapnil latches onto a short delivery from Tahir and pulls it through square leg for a boundary. Anwar then flicks one through square leg for his first boundary. Steyn then hits him on the shoulder with a bouncer that doens’t bounce much. But that doesn’t hamper Anwar’s approach as he hammers Philander through mid-wicket with a pull for a boundary. Anwar is playing confidently now.

After 20 overs, UAE 61/3 (Anwar 8, Swapnil 6)

Behardien and Tahir are bowling in tandem. Anwar and Swapnil ahve been extra cautious. They haven’t looked to his attacking shots and Behardien has beaten Swapnil on numerous accasions. Swapnil is all at sea right now. Anwar looks assured in his defense. Just 11 runs in the last five overs. UAE are going nowhere.

After 15 overs, UAE 50/3 (Shaiman 3, Swapnil 2)

The introduction of Morkel has turned into a master stroke. He’s bowling really well. He hit Khurram on helmet and then hit him on the gloves off the next ball. He beat Khurram’s outside edge on a couple of occasions and then finally got his man caught behind. There were consecutive maidens in the last five overs. UAE managed just 8 runs and lost two wickets in the last five overs.

OUT! Khurram departs now. Khurram Khan c de Kock b Morkel 12 (17b 2×4 0x6), After 12.3 overs, UAE 45/3 (Anwar 1)

The constant pressure put by Morkel has worked. Morkel hit Khurram ont he helmet and gloves in the previous over and then beat him on his drive in the next, he finally had his man as Khurram went for a pull off a short delivery but got an under edge to the keeper. 

Swapnil Patil is the new batsman.

OUT! Duminy removes Amjad Ali! Amjad Ali c Behardien b Duminy 21 (36b 3×4 0x6) , After 11.4 overs, UAE 45/2 (Khurram 12)

Against the run of play, Amjad departs. It’s full on the leg stump, flighted. amjad gets down and goes for a slog sweep but gets a top edge to deep square leg where Behardien accepts it calmly. 

The in-form Shaiman Anwar strides out to the middle.

Khurram getting a Michael Clarke-style going over from Morne Morkel. Morkel will be damned in his next life #khurramkhanfacts

— Paul Radley (@PaulRadley) March 12, 2015

After 10 overs, UAE 42/1 (Amjad 19, Khurram 11)

Amjad looks in good touch but the departure of Berenger has pegged UAE back. Steyn doesn’t look the same Steyn we used to know. Amjad is playing the flicks pretty well. He whipped one off Philander for a boundary. Philander is bowling with good discipline and the Proteas are throwing themselves in the field.  Morkel has got a wicket in his first over with a snorter and he’s getting good extra bounce from the surface. Khurram then gets into the act with a couple of thumping fours off Duminy.  23/1 int he last five overs for UAE.

OUT! Brilliant catch from Rossouw! Morkel removes Berenger! AR Berenger c Rossouw b Morkel 5 (21b 1×4 0x6). After 6.4 overs, UAE 29/1 (Amjad 17)

Short of a length delivery on off by Morkel. It jumps off the surface. Berenger is surprised and looks to fend, the ball takes the shoulder of the bat and loops to backward point. Rossouw dives forward and pouches a one-handed stunner. 

Khurram Khan is the new batsman.

After 5 overs, UAE  19/0 ( Amjad 9, Berenger 5)

UAE have got off to a slow but steady start.  Steyn and Philander are getting very little movement. Amjad got off the mark in style with a thumping pull over square leg off Steyn in the first over. Berenger then opened his boundary account with a streaky four over the slip cordon off Steyn.  Amjad then flicks it through mid-wicket off Steyn off another boundary. Steyn then comes from round the wicket, Amjad looks to heave but gets an outside edge to third man for just a single. The batsmen have shown good defense so far and haven’t been troubled much.

Last time UAE batted vs South Africa in a WC 1996
Sultan Zarawani hit by a bouncer from Allan Donald#SAvsUAE#CWC15 pic.twitter.com/GcFk8c6uYU

— Mohandas Menon (@mohanstatsman) March 12, 2015

Right then! The UAE openers Amjad Ali and Berenger have made their way out to the middle. Steyn will start off proceedings for South Africa. It’s his 100th ODI for South Africa, he led the team out in the middle.

4th total of 300plus by South Africa in this World Cup. Only team to score more than four is Australia (five 300s in 2007). #cwc15

— Mazher Arshad (@MazherArshad) March 12, 2015

South Africa post 341/6

South Africa have done well to post 341/6. Behardien’s late assault provided the Proteas a much-neede boost.  South Africa were in a bit of trouble at 85/2 in the 16th over but then De Villiers took over the reins and he along with Miller added 108 for the fourth wicket. De Villiers and Miller (49) survived dropped chances but De Villiers couldn’t get to his ton as he departed on 99. Just when it looked like UAE were fighting back hard, Behardien hammered them all over the park with a brisk 64 off 31 balls to propel South Africa to 341/6. SA hit 65/1 in the last five overs, 25 of them in the last over with two sixes and two fours. Mohammad Naveed was the pick of the bowlers for UAE with figures of 3/63 in 10 overs.

FIFTY for Behardien!

Behardien gets to his fifty in style with a six. 50 off just 28 balls. Three fours and three sixes in his innings so far.

Naveed, 1-51 v Pak, now 3-63 v SA. Pretty decent bearing in mind he bowls PP and death overs. Looked like he's belonged at the World Cup

— Paul Radley (@PaulRadley) March 12, 2015

OUT! Duminy departs! JP Duminy lbw b Mohammad Naveed 23 (28b 1×4 0x6). After 47 overs, South Africa 292/6 (Behardien 27) 

Naveed gets his third wicket, he’s bowled pretty well so far. Full on the leg stump, Duminy stays in his crease and looks to flick but misses and gets hit on the back leg. The umpire lifts the finger on the appeal. Duminy opts for a review and replays show it was clipping off. Umpire’s call and Dumny trudges back. 

Vernon Philander is the new batsman.

After 45 overs, South Africa 276/5 (Duminy 20, Behardien 13)

Just when it looked like UAE were in for a hammering, the fought back with the HUGE wicket of de Villiers. De Villiers had started to look ominous and was playing some wonderful shots. he it a six off Khurram but then departed the next over on 99. Just 37 runs and a wicket off the last five overs. Good stuff from UAE. UAE would do well to restrict South Africa to 310-320!

Dismissed on 99 in World Cups
Gilchrist vs SL, 2003
Duminy vs Ire, 2011
AB de Villiers vs UAE, 2015#SAvsUAE #CWC15

— Bharath Seervi (@SeerviBharath) March 12, 2015

AB de Villiers out on 99. 3rd batsman to get out on 99 after @gilly381 and @jpduminy21 in a World Cup match.#CWC15 #SAvUAE

— Dillip Mohanty (@dkmohanty) March 12, 2015

OUT! De Villiers departs for 99! AB de Villiers c Amjad Javed b Kamran Shazad 99 (82b 6×4 4×6). After 42.2 overs, South Africa 257/5 (Duminy 13)

Oh dear! De Villiers misses out on his ton! Full outside off from Shahzad, De Villiers looks to drive but gets an outside edge straight to short third man. He can’t believe it, the proteas fans can’t believe it but after a while, it sinks in and he walks off with a smile. Shahzad is delighted. A fantastic innings comes to an end. 

Farhan Behardien is the new batsman.

De Villiers has overtaken Gayle (18) for most number of sixes in World Cup 2015 so far – 19.

After 40 overs, South Africa 240/4 (De Villiers 90, Duminy 5)

UAE might pay dearly for dropping De Villiers. He’s into the groove now. After a couple of frugal overs where Naveed removes Miller, Javed drops Miller. De Villiers smacks it straight back & Javed fluffs it. De Villiers rubs salt on woulds with a 6 next ball. he then hammers a couple of fours off Naveed and then hammers it over deep square leg off Javed for another six and then cracks one through extra cover for four. 42/1 in the Batting Powerplay for South Africa, still good stuff from UAE in that period.

OUT! Miller misses out on his fifty! D Miller b Mohammad Naveed 49 (48b 2×4 0x6) . After 36.1 overs, South Africa 204/4. (De Villiers 60)

Naveed is brought back in the Batting Powerplay and he stikes! Short of a good length delivery outside off, Miller stays in his crease and looks to pull but ends up dragging it onto the stumps. It’s wasn’t that short and Miller played the wrong shot!

JP Duminy is the new batsman.

The average number of balls taken to score a fifty in #CWC15 is 53 balls
AB de Villiers today needed 54 balls!#SAvUAE

— Mohandas Menon (@mohanstatsman) March 12, 2015

After 35 overs, South Africa 198/3 (De Villiers 58, Miller 46)

The Poteas have upped the ante in the last five overs. They have hit five fours without taking many risky. De Villiers has reached yet another fifty. Tauqir who bowled really well finished with figures of 10-0-47-1. South Africa hit 41 runs in the last five overs. The 100-stand has also come up off 99 balls. We have the batting Powerplay now and both De Villiers and Miller would be looking to make the most of it!

FIFTY for De Villiers!

De Villiers gets to his 45th ODI fifty with a four. It’s been a patient inns so far from the skipper. Just three fours so far….

Tauqir. 43 years old. More or less retired 2 years back. 10 overs, 1 for 47 vs SA in the World Cup. That'll do #CWC15 #SAvUAE

— Paul Radley (@PaulRadley) March 12, 2015

After 30 overs, South Africa 158/3 (De Villiers 35, Miller 29)

South Africa dealing only in singles at the moment. Miller is living a charmed life as he gets dropped again. He hits it powerfully to extra cover off Alhashmi but Tauqir doesn’t manage to hold on. The 50-run stand then comes up off 54 balls. It’s been slow going for the Proteas but with ABD at the crease they can afford to relax and then go bang, bang at the death. 24 runs off the last five overs. De Villiers has been pretty quiet so far and full credit to UAE!

After 25 overs, South Africa 134/3 (De Villiers 26, Miller 15)

UAE had the chance to send back Miller and De Villiers but poor fielding and bad luck cost them. Miller could hav ebeen un out trying to go for a quick single but the keeper fumbled while receiving the throw and that allowed Miller to get back in. Fahad Alhashmi is then introduced into the attack and he could have had De Villiers in his first over as he beat his inside edge with a slow off cutter. A loud LBW appeal is turned down. It looked out to the naked eye! De Villiers then lofts one effortlessly over extra cover for a six off Tauqir. The ball is not coming onto the bat and the batsmen are finding it difficult to get it off the middle. 30/0 in the last five overs.

After 20 overs, South Africa 104/3 (De Viliers 6, Miller 5)

This is good stuff from UAE. They have seen that the pitch is slow and taken pace off the ball completely. Both Javed and Tauqir have bowled stump to stump and have scalped a wicket each. South Africa haven’t got going and have been dented by the loss of De Kock and Rossouw. Tauqir deserved a wicket and he got the big one of Rossouw. South Africa have crossed 100 but they have been too slow. 22/2 in the last five overs.

OUT! Tauqir gets a deserved wicket. R Rossouw c & b Mohammad Tauqir 43 (49b 8×4 0x6). After 18.2 overs, South Africa 96/3 (De Villiers 2)

He was bowling well and was unlucky on a couple of occasions. But this time around he’s scalped the wicket of the dangerous looking Rossouw. It’s tossed up on off, spinning away. Rossouw comes forward and looks to turn it to the leg side but ends up getting a leading edge back to the bowler. 

David Miller strides out to the middle.

Gotta feel for De Kock...sometimes things just don't go your way. He goes out for Faf...Abbott/Parnell comes in for Behardien vs SL.

— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) March 12, 2015

OUT! De Kock flops again! Q de Kock c Saqlain Haider b Amjad Javed 26 (45b 2×4 0x6), After 16 overs, South Africa 85/2 (Rossouw 36)

Good change of pace from Javed! It’s a length delivery outside off, an off-cutter. De Kock is lured into the drive and he feels for it. Gets an outside edge to the keeper who pouches and they all go up in a huge appeal. The umpire says no. UAE can’t believe it and straightaway review it. Skicko shows a big nick and the onfield decision is overturned. 

AB de Villiers is the new batsman.

After 15 overs, South Africa 82/1 (De kock 25, Rossouw 34)

Looks like the ball is holding onto the surface. Tauqir comes on to bowl and straightaway troubles Rossouw. He beats Rossouw with a straighter one which misses the stumps b a whisker and troubles Rossouw a couple of times more in the over. Javed’s 120 KPH deliveries are holding onto the track and the batsmen aren’t able to find the middle. Rossoue then gets a streaky four off Javed as he goes for a pull but gets a top edge to third man. Once again Tauqir beats another batsman completely and this time it’s De Kock. The straighter one flies over the stumps for four byes. 21 runs off the last five overs.

Quinton de Kock is into double figures for the second time at this World Cup. #cwc15

— Firdose Moonda (@FirdoseM) March 12, 2015

After 10 overs, South Africa 61/1 (De Kock 17, Rossouw 28)

Rossouw has come out with an attacking intent. He’s already hit 6 fours in his innings. He’s been commanding on his pull shots and playing his straight drives pretty well. He cracks a couple of straight drives for consecutive fours off Shahzad and then punches one down to mid on off the same bowler in his next over for another four. He then pulls a half- tracker over mid-wicket for his sixth four of the innings. De Kock, who struggled to get going,  hit his first boundary after 22 balls. A cracking cover drive off Shahzad and then got another one off a Free Hit as he whipped one through mid-wicket off the same bowler. 30 runs off the last five overs.

STAT – Amla hit 12 fours in his last 50 runs in this World Cup!

After 5 overs, South Africa 31/1 ( De Kock 6, Rossouw 10)

A lively start to the game. Amla gets off the mark in a streaky manner as he gets an outside edge wide of the slip cordon for a boundary. He then punches one through point for the second four of the first over.  Naveed then oversteps and conceded a Free Hit, he bowls a beamer on the Free Hit and it hits Amla on the arm, he is attended to by the physio. The Free Hit stays and Amla goes for a wild swing off it but gets caught at second slip. 10 runs off the first over. Amla then punches one off Shahzzad through covers for a crunching boundary.
Amla looked a bit rattled by that blow and plays a poor shot to trudge back to pavilion in the third over. Rossouw then pulls a couple over mid-wicket for fours. There has been confusion in running between the wickets between De Kock and Rossouw!

OUT! Naveed strikes early and gets the big fish! H Amla c Amjad Ali b Mohammad Naveed 12 (16b 3×4 0x6), After 2.5 overs, South Africa 17/1 (De Kock 2)

It’s short on off from Naveed. Amla stays in his crease and looks to pull off the front foot but is done in by the extra pace. He gets a top edge high in the air and Amjad at cover takes a very good catch. 

Rilee Rossouw is the new batsman.

Right then! The South Africa openers – Quinton de Kock and Hashim Amla have made their way out to the middle. Mahammad Naveed will start off proceedings for UAE.

PITCH – This is a belter of  track, with plenty of runs in it. Sunil Gavaskar reckoned that the team that wins the toss would be looking to bat first but surprisingly, UAE opted to bowl first. Are we in for another 400 plus score?

This is South Africa's 1000th INTL match, their 1st match was exactly 126 years ago - v England at Port Elizabeth 12 Mar 1889 #SAvUAE #CWC15

— Cricket Records (@cricinfo_record) March 12, 2015

SA XI: Amla, de Kock, R Rossouw,  De Villiers, Duminy, Miller, Behardien, Philander, Steyn, Morkel, Tahir.

UAE XI: Amjad, Raffaelo, Khurram, Shaiman, Patil, Haider, Javed, Naveed, Tauqir, Alhashmi, Shahzad.

TOSS – UAE have won the toss and ELECTED TO BOWL.

World Cup 2015: Patchy Proteas ‘still best in World Cup’, says de Villiers – Firstposthttp://www.firstpost.com

Preview: South Africa eyes UAE win, quarterfinal spot at World Cup – Firstposthttp://www.firstpost.com

A win against bottom-placed UAE in Wellington would all but guarantee South Africa a second-place finish in Pool B behind India and a likely quarterfinal matchup against Sri Lanka in Sydney.

Should it lose, South Africa would likely finish pool play in a three-way tie on six points, but would be favored to progress thanks to its superior net run rate.

Hello and welcome to the coverage of the 36th match of the World Cup between South Africa and UAE at Westpac stadium, Wellington. Match starts at 6.30 am IST. Follow this space for live scores and updates.