De Villiers, Van Wyk set up Eagles' facile win

Their five-wicket win over Somerset Sabres on Friday at the Rajiv Gandhi International stadium displayed their desire to defy odds. After restricting the English side to 132 for eight, the South Africans overhauled the target with consummate ease in front of an almost empty stadium.

The star of their victory was young pace bowler Cornelius de Villiers. The 23-year old produced an opening burst full of verve, accuracy and pace to rattle the Somerset top order. He removed Craig Keiswetter, who replaced Marcus Trescothick at the opening slot, Arul Suppiah and Zander de Bruyn quickly to reduce the English outfit to 18 for three in 3.4 overs.

Somerset never really recovered from the early jolts, struggling to force the pace against spot-on Eagles bowlers. Skipper Justin Langer, whose poor run continued, and Peter Trego soon returned, leaving them on the brink at 52 for five.

However, the sixth-wicket pair of Wesley Durston and James Hildreth prevented a total annihilation, milking 77 runs off 56 balls. But the partnership only helped to add a touch of respectability to the total.

Eagles lost their find of the tournament, Riley Roussouw, in the nascent stages of their chase. Roussouw’s attempt to hoist Charl Willoughby out of the ground ended in the hands of Keiswetter.

But Morne van Wyk, who played a sensible innings, marshaled the troops around him with great efficiency while featuring in useful partnerships with the middle-order batsmen as Eagles went past the target without stretching themselves much.

SCORE BOARD

SOMERSET SABRES: Craig Kieswelter lbw de Villiers 8 (9b, 2x4), Justin Langer b Tshabalala 12 (14b, 2x4), Arul Suppiah lbw de Villiers 0 (1b), Zander de Bruyn c A McLaren b de Villiers 2 (8b), James Hildreth c Roussouw b Coetzee 31 (40b, 2x4), Peter Trego c&b Kruger 6 (11b), Wesley Durston c R McLaren b de Villiers 57 (32b, 10x4), Ben Philips c A McLaren b Coetzee 0 (4b), Alfonso Thomas (not out) 1 (1b), Max Waller (not out) 0 (2b). Extras (LB-10, W-3, NB-2) 15. Total (for 8 wkts, 20 overs) 132.

Fall of wickets: 1-11 (Kieswelter), 2-11 (Suppiah), 3-18 (Bruyn), 4-40 (Langer), 5-52 (Trego), 6-129 (Durston), 7-131 (Philips), 8-131 (Hildreth).

Bowling: Jandre Coetzee 4-0-24-2 (nb-1), Cornelius de Villiers 4-2-17-4 (w-2), Shadley van Schalwyk 1-0-9-0 (nb-1), Ryan McLaren 4-0-31-0, Thandi Tshabalala 3-0-18-1 (w-1), Alex Kruger 3-0-14-1, Ryan Bailey 1-0-9-0.
Runs during Power Play: 1-6 overs: 40/3.

DIAMOND EAGLES: Morne van Wyk c Kieswetter b Thomas 47 (41b, 4x4), Riley Roussouw c Thomas b Willoughby 13 (8b, 1x4, 1x6), Andy McLaren c Durston b Willoughby 13 (14b, 3x4), Boeta Dippenar c Durston b Waller 18 (19b, 2x4), Ryan Bailey c Waller b Thomas 25 (24b, 4x4), Ryan McLaren (not out) 4 (5b, 1x4), Alex Kruger (not out) 0 (1b). Extras (LB-8, W-1) 9. Total (for 4 wkts, 18.4 overs) 133.
Fall of wickets: 1-16 (Roussouw), 2-46 (A McLaren), 3-77 (Dippenar), 4-126 (van Wyk), 5-132 (Bailey).

Bowling: Alfonso Thomas 3.4-0-21-2, Charl Willoughby 4-0-29-2, Ben Philips 4-0-22-0 (w-1), Max Waller 4-0-28-1, Peter Trego 3-0-26-0.
Runs during Power Play: 1-6 overs: 46/2.