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Preview: AB de Villiers wants consistency and commitment in South Africa’s final pool match against the United Arab Emirates on Thursday, aware the Proteas’ stop-start form cannot continue as the tournament’s knockout phase looms. At their best, de Villiers’ men have looked like world beaters, becoming the first team in history to post successive one-day international totals of 400-plus in Pool B wins over the West Indies and Ireland. But they have also been skittled out for 177 and 202 in losses to India and Pakistan respectively, reviving memories of the hated “chokers” tag that has haunted previous World Cup campaigns. [caption id=“attachment_1685505” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  South African batsman AB de Villiers, right, and JP Duminy. AP[/caption] The Proteas were many pundits’ tip to lift a maiden World Cup this year but their inconsistency means bookmakers are now ranking them behind co-hosts Australia and New Zealand. With a quarter-final against a dangerous Sri Lanka appearing likely, the UAE match presents a final chance for some South African fine-tuning. It also has the potential to provide crucial practice for seamer Vernon Philander, who has missed the past three games with a hamstring injury. De Villiers was at a loss to explain the Pakistan defeat and said he wanted to see an improvement against the UAE. “Nothing was really happening at 100 percent,” de Villiers said after the 29-run loss. “It was almost like a car that’s been stuck in second or third gear. “That’s not going to win you cricket games, especially not under pressure and in big tournament’s like this. So we need to have a chat about what maybe went wrong… and try to get to fifth gear again against the UAE.” Victory against the UAE would most likely see South Africa finish second in Pool B behind India, setting up a last eight showdown with Sri Lanka. The amateurs of the UAE, many of them Pakistani expatriates, are winless so far in the tournament and should not present a hurdle if South Africa are anywhere near their best. The teams have met only once before, when South Africa posted a 169-run win at the 1996 World Cup. UAE’s best performance so far at this year’s tournament was a gutsy two-wicket loss to fellow non-Test nation Ireland and captain Mohammed Tauqir admitted he was wary of South Africa’s batting power. Tauqir said there would be no shame in conceding 400-plus runs to a line-up that includes the likes of de Villiers, Hashim Amla and Faf du Plessis, who are all in the top 10 run-scorers at the tournament. Asked about his strategy to stop a South Africa run-fest, he quipped: “It seems the only way they cannot score 400 runs is (we) win the toss and bat.” “The way they are going, they’re scoring 400 runs against West Indies and Ireland. I think we need to bowl well, need to field well to restrict them. “Now even considering 400 is not an embarrassing total, you know. So, yeah. We will be putting in a lot of effort against South Africa.” AFP
World Cup, South Africa vs UAE as it happened: South Africa thump UAE by 146 runs
The Proteas were many pundits’ tip to lift a maiden World Cup this year but their inconsistency means bookmakers are now ranking them behind co-hosts Australia and New Zealand.
 "World Cup, South Africa vs UAE as it happened: South Africa thump UAE by 146 runs")
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.
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.
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.
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.
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!
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