Smith praise for Proteas top order

Profiles / Editor / 04 April 2007 / Leave a Comment

South Africa skipper Graeme Smith paid tribute to his batsmen after they overcame Ireland by seven wickets on the Duckworth-Lewis system in Guyana.

Set 153 for victory in 35 overs in a rain-affected match, the Proteas lost A B de Villiers for a duck, but Smith himself with 41 and Jacques Kallis, who finished unbeaten on 66, put on 70 for the second wicket to close in on the Irish total.

Ashwell Prince then finished off the job with a quick-fire 47 and Smith felt it was important for the 29-year-old to get some runs under his belt to ensure all his main weapons at the top of the order are firing on all cylinders as the business end of the World Cup approaches.

"Our top batsmen are going well and it is good for us that they are, because it is a key part of our game," he said.

"It was also nice for Ashwell to get some time in the middle after a bit of a barren run. Hopefully we can continue firing and push on in the tournament."

Ireland gave a good account of themselves and proved that their victory over Pakistan in the group stage was no fluke and Smith was pleased to have come through a match against a side he feels have every right to be in the Caribbean.

"I'm glad we have won, and won well, but I must offer full credit to the way Ireland played," he added. "They are full of passion and effort and they're a credit to the event."

South Africa now face Bangladesh on Saturday as they look to continue their winning ways in the Super 8 phase of the competition, and are trading as the 1.04 favourites to down the Asian outfit, who can be backed at 24 to pull off a shock victory.

Further runs for Smith at the top of the order would consolidate his position at the head of the 'Top Batting Captain' market, where he is the current 1.77 favourite, with New Zealand skipper Stephen Fleming available at 2.52 and Australia captain Ricky Ponting on offer at 2.66.

Mahela Jayawardene of Sri Lanka trades at 7.4, West Indian legend Brain Lara can be backed at 6.6 but out-of-sorts England skipper Michael Vaughan is not fancied and is offered at 24