South Africa advanced to the knockout stage of the decades tournament with a crushing innings victory over a hapless Rest of the World side.
Hansie Cronje won the toss on a green Cape Town wicket and had no hesitation in electing to field. His bowlers were once again on top form as they ripped through the World XI in humid bowler friendly conditions. Alan Donald starred, taking 4-37, while seamers Pollock and de Villiers bagged 3 apiece. The World XI were bowled out for 162 with Andy Flower unbeaten on 56 and captain Brian Lara making 45.
Batting conditions improved and South Africa plundered the World XI for runs on the 2nd day. Kepler Wessels made an atypical 105, scoring at a strike rate of over 75 and he was ably assisted by Daryl Cullinan, who scored his 2nd ton of the tournament. They added 155 for the 3rd wicket and quickly saw South Africa past the World XI total and in to a commanding lead. South Africa were all out at 5:34 on Day 2 with a lead of 197.
Alan Donald and Brett Schultz quickly made inroads to the World XI batting as they ended Day 2 on 7-2. The writing was already on the wall and by lunch, the World XI had slumped to 72-6. Some late resistance by Andy Flower, Inzamam-ul-Haq and then Waqar Younis only delayed the inevitable and the World XI were all out for 152 at 4:30pm on Day 3.
The result was a huge innings victory within 3 days and cemented South Africa as the dominant team in this group. They have played brilliant cricket throughout and were worthy Group winners. All eyes now turn to the Ashes contest in Brisbane to see who will join the Proteas in the next round.
Kepler Wessels won Man of the Match here for his brilliant hundred on a wicket that favoured the bowlers throughout.
South Africa 1990s: KC Wessels; AC Hudson; G Kirsten; DJ Cullinan; WJ Cronje [c]; BM McMillan; SM Pollock; DJ Richardson [w]; PS de Villiers; AA Donald; BN Schultz
Rest of the World 1990s: ST Jayasuriya; Saeed Anwar; PA de Silva; BC Lara [c]; SR Tendulkar; Inzamam-ul-Haq; A Flower [w]; CL Cairns; Wasim Akram; Saqlain Mushtaq; Waqar Younis
Rest of the World 1990s 1st Innings 162-10 (51.4 Ov)
A Flower 56*, BC Lara 45, AA Donald 4-37, SM Pollock 3-31, PS de Villiers 3-33
South Africa 1990s 1st Innings 359-10 (100.1 Ov)
KC Wessels 105, DJ Cullinan 103, SM Pollock 43, Wasim Akram 3-70, Waqar Younis 3-116, SR Tendulkar 2-23
Rest of the World 1990s 2nd Innings 152-10 (63 Ov)
A Flower 42*, Inzamam-ul-Haq 39, BN Schultz 4-28, AA Donald 2-31, SM Pollock 2-55
South Africa 1990s win by an innings and 45 runs
Man of the Match: KC Wessels
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