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LONDON (AFP) – AB de Villiers's 79 not out provided the platform for South Africa to crush Scotland by 130 runs in the Proteas' opening match of the ICC World Twenty20 at the Oval here on Sunday.
Scotland, chasing a target of 212 after South Africa made 211 for five, slumped to 81 all out - the seventh lowest total in Twenty20 internationals and the second worst at the World Twenty20 following Kenya's 73 against New Zealand in Durban two years ago.
"We played beautifully today," South Africa captain Graeme Smith told reporters. We had a few more nerves after watching the first few days of the tournament (which started with minnows Netherlands beating England), so today it was important to send a message."
He added: "The first six overs and the last five are crucial scoring areas. We've got good guys up front and good finishers. AB and Albie (Morkel) finished it off beautifully."
De Villiers, who had a successful tour of England last year, said: "I had fun, some of the boundaries were short out there and we took advantage."
Scotland collapsed to 13 for four inside three overs and only Kyle Coetzer's gutsy 42 off 32 balls, featuring three sixes, prevented an even greater margin of defeat.
Scotland could also take some consolation from the performance of off-spinner Majid Haq, who took two wickets in four balls to remove openers Jacques Kallis and South Africa captain Graeme Smith, who put on 87.
This crushing reverse ended minnows Scotland's slim hopes of qualifying for the second phase Super Eights after their seven-wicket loss to New Zealand, the other team in Group D, in a rain-affected match at the Oval on Saturday.
Scotland are a largely part-time side but skipper Gavin Hamilton told reporters: "We can't sit here making excuses, these chances will run out.
"The Twenty20 qualifiers (in the United Arab Emirates) are coming up. This experience has been priceless, we don't want to miss out on chances like this," the former England all-rounder added.
"But we will be a better team and better people in October."
De Villiers faced just 34 balls, striking six sixes and six fours.
South Africa quick Dale Steyn bowled Ryan Watson off the fifth ball of the reply and, after Hamilton fell to Wayne Parnell, two wickets were lost with the score on 13.
Navdeep Poonia was run out needlessly for nought before Colin Smith was bowled first ball by a 91mph Steyn yorker.
Coetzer did give Scotland fans something to cheer by pulling Steyn for six but the match had been over as a contest long before then.
Scotland briefly staunched the flow of wickets before Neil McCallum was bowled by off-spinner Johan Botha to leave his side 35 for five.
When South Africa batted, Kallis dragged a sweep against Haq onto his stumps having faced 31 balls with eight fours.
And three balls later Smith got a top-edge off Haq which was caught by Scotland wicket-keeper Colin Smith.
"Maj has been fantastic," said Hamilton. "He's a tough cookie, if you clear the ropes he'll keep coming back."
Scotland put a brake on the run-rate and when Herschelle Gibbs was stumped by Smith off Watson, South Africa were 125 for three in the 15th over.
But the Proteas scored 83 runs off the last five overs although the last over did see Coetzer take a brilliant catch, diving backwards, to get rid of Mark Boucher.
South Africa conclude their Group D programme against New Zealand at Lord's on Monday.
Scotland, chasing a target of 212 after South Africa made 211 for five, slumped to 81 all out - the seventh lowest total in Twenty20 internationals and the second worst at the World Twenty20 following Kenya's 73 against New Zealand in Durban two years ago.
"We played beautifully today," South Africa captain Graeme Smith told reporters. We had a few more nerves after watching the first few days of the tournament (which started with minnows Netherlands beating England), so today it was important to send a message."
He added: "The first six overs and the last five are crucial scoring areas. We've got good guys up front and good finishers. AB and Albie (Morkel) finished it off beautifully."
De Villiers, who had a successful tour of England last year, said: "I had fun, some of the boundaries were short out there and we took advantage."
Scotland collapsed to 13 for four inside three overs and only Kyle Coetzer's gutsy 42 off 32 balls, featuring three sixes, prevented an even greater margin of defeat.
Scotland could also take some consolation from the performance of off-spinner Majid Haq, who took two wickets in four balls to remove openers Jacques Kallis and South Africa captain Graeme Smith, who put on 87.
This crushing reverse ended minnows Scotland's slim hopes of qualifying for the second phase Super Eights after their seven-wicket loss to New Zealand, the other team in Group D, in a rain-affected match at the Oval on Saturday.
Scotland are a largely part-time side but skipper Gavin Hamilton told reporters: "We can't sit here making excuses, these chances will run out.
"The Twenty20 qualifiers (in the United Arab Emirates) are coming up. This experience has been priceless, we don't want to miss out on chances like this," the former England all-rounder added.
"But we will be a better team and better people in October."
De Villiers faced just 34 balls, striking six sixes and six fours.
South Africa quick Dale Steyn bowled Ryan Watson off the fifth ball of the reply and, after Hamilton fell to Wayne Parnell, two wickets were lost with the score on 13.
Navdeep Poonia was run out needlessly for nought before Colin Smith was bowled first ball by a 91mph Steyn yorker.
Coetzer did give Scotland fans something to cheer by pulling Steyn for six but the match had been over as a contest long before then.
Scotland briefly staunched the flow of wickets before Neil McCallum was bowled by off-spinner Johan Botha to leave his side 35 for five.
When South Africa batted, Kallis dragged a sweep against Haq onto his stumps having faced 31 balls with eight fours.
And three balls later Smith got a top-edge off Haq which was caught by Scotland wicket-keeper Colin Smith.
"Maj has been fantastic," said Hamilton. "He's a tough cookie, if you clear the ropes he'll keep coming back."
Scotland put a brake on the run-rate and when Herschelle Gibbs was stumped by Smith off Watson, South Africa were 125 for three in the 15th over.
But the Proteas scored 83 runs off the last five overs although the last over did see Coetzer take a brilliant catch, diving backwards, to get rid of Mark Boucher.
South Africa conclude their Group D programme against New Zealand at Lord's on Monday.
