ST GEORGE’S, Grenada, April 11, 2007 (AFP) – West Indies captain Brian Lara apologised to fans after his team’s World Cup hopes were shattered by South Africa in their Super Eights match at the Grenada National Stadium Tuesday. AB de Villiers slammed a maiden one-day international century to set South Africa on the way to a 67-run win which effectively ended the hosts’ hopes of reaching the semi-finals.
“We don’t deserve to be in the semi-finals and we say to our people, we’re sorry about that,” said Lara.
“There are many more World Cups to come and we just hope the young players in the team can regroup and get over it. It has been a shock not only not to fulfil our dreams but the dreams of the people of the Caribbean.”
Lara said South Africa had outplayed his team.
De Villiers (146) and Jacques Kallis (81) put on 170 for the second wicket and South Africa went on to hammer 356 for four after being sent in.
West Indies managed 289 for nine in reply, with Ramnaresh Sarwan hitting 92.
Lara said a key period of the game was when De Villiers and Kallis went on the attack in the second powerplay.
“After the tenth over they pounced on us. Between ten and 15 they scored 50 runs and that set the t