WIndies seek to unseat S.Africa

WORLD CUP SUPER 8s, GRENADA
West Indies v South Africa

West Indies would love a major contribution from Chris Gayle

West Indies play South Africa on Tuesday in Grenada knowing defeat will confirm their absence from the World Cup semi-finals.

South Africa themselves, handed a shock defeat by Bangladesh on Saturday, must also win to recover their campaign.

The Windies have not yet won in the Super 8s, suffering heavy defeats by Australia, New Zealand and Sri Lanka.

But wicket-keeper Denesh Ramdin said: "Sometimes when we put ourselves in these positions we come back well."

The 22-year-old went on: "The guys just need to go out there and believe in themselves.

"We've been bowling well throughout the tournament; we just need the batters to go out there and do the job at the top of the order.

"The top order has not been giving us the start we need - they've let us down in the last three matches.

"But I know the guys are strong. There are a lot of senior players up at the top, so they can go in and bounce back against South Africa - and we can start from there and go all the way."

Ramdin was encouraged by the chinks he saw in the South African armour during their 67-run humbling by Bangladesh.

Bangladesh's spinners tied down the South Africans. We hope ours can do the same Denesh Ramdin

"We watched the match together, looking at key areas where South Africa faltered - and we'll take those points into this game," he said.

"South Africa don't look that good a chasing team - so if we can go and get a score of 260 to 275 and put them under some pressure, create some doubts in the batsmen's minds and get a couple of early wickets we can do the job.

"Bangladesh had three spinners, who tied down the South Africans. We hope our spinners can do the same."

Tuesday's match is the first of six Super 8 games to be contested at rebuilt Queen's Park, badly damaged by Hurricane Ivan three years ago.

It is the only appearance by the Cup hosts in Grenada, so the grounds should be close to its capacity of 17,000.

South Africa have lost just six times in 21 one-day internationals to West Indies this decade.

Significantly, they triumphed 5-0 in a one-day series in the Caribbean in 2005.

Proteas paceman Andre Nel took five wickets against Bangladesh, and will surely be retained, but it means the places of Shaun Pollock or Makhaya Ntini may be in jeopardy.