Sunday 25 January 2015

West Indies Triumphant in Port Elizabeth

An explosive 64 not out off 40 balls by Andre Russell secured the West Indies' first win of the series against South Africa earlier today. The visitors looked dead and buried at 73/5 after 22 overs in pursuit of the Protea's 262 and when the 9th wicket fell with another 24 runs required, very few pundits would have given them a chance.

Russell, however, doesn't lack any confidence and showed the public just why he's known as superman in some circles, finishing the game in style by dispatching Kyle Abbott over long on for 6, ending a losing streak of 16 consecutive matches to South Africa. He was given good support by Marlon Samuels (68) and Darren Sammy (51) before the lower order helped steering the ship over the line with nine balls to spare.

Earlier in the day the festive St George's Park crowd, spurred on by the famous band, were entertained by David Miller hitting his maiden century for South Africa, having been in a spot of bother themselves on 76/4. Miller who finished on 130 not out will be delighted in the way he managed to build and construct an innings of this stature as he's trying to cement his place in the South African starting line-up ahead of the World Cup. His destructive ability to score runs very quickly at the end of an innings is known by many a bowler across the globe and on several occasions the strong South African top order hasn't left him much time to build an innings, but today it was needed and no doubt managed to install much needed faith days before South Africa cross the Indian Ocean and head to Australasia.

It was the innings of Andre Russell the people of PE will remember for a long time though as the tour heads to Centurion for the final ODI, South Africa having already won, leading 3-1.

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