Smith: We can win World Twenty20

South Africa captain Graeme Smith believes his side are on course for World Twenty20 glory after they beat West Indies at The Oval.

Teenage pace ace Wayne Parnell took four for 13 as South Africa ran out winners by 20 runs to once again justify their tag as tournament favourites.

"It's been a successful week but a tough one," said Smith. "We get an extra day now before we play India and I'm comfortable with where we are, you can't argue with the performances or the results we have turned out in this competition so far."

He added: "As a team we try to challenge ourselves. There are always things to improve on but if we play our best and with our intensity, if we perform to our potential, then we will be difficult to beat.

"I really believe we can win it, but there is a long way to go, a lot of cricket to be played and a lot of good teams in this competition."

The Proteas made 183 for seven from their 20 overs, including 55 from Herschelle Gibbs, and after Parnell had removed openers Chris Gayle and Andre Fletcher they were relatively untroubled in restricting West Indies to 163 for nine.

Lendl Simmons offered brief hope of a Windies fightback, but their chance disappeared when he fell for 77 as South Africa followed up their win over England on Thursday with another impressive performance

West Indies skipper Gayle was unhappy his side had been forced to take to the field just 17 hours after beating India at Lord's last night, but refused to blame the quick turnaround for the defeat.

The Windies next take on England on Monday.

"Twenty20 takes a lot out of you mentally. But we knew the itinerary and we came here to play a good game of cricket so I'm disappointed we lost," said Gayle. "I have to commend the guys for the effort they put in after what happened on Friday. We wanted to better that performance but it didn't happen."
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Smith says South Africa can win T20 title

South Africa captain Graeme Smith said his side were well-placed to triumph at the World Twenty20 after extending their unbeaten record at the tournament with a 20-run win over the West Indies.

That victory, coupled with a seven-wicket defeat of hosts England
earlier in the week, meant South Africa had won their opening two Super Eights matches.

The Proteas, who are within touching distance of the semi-finals, complete their second round programme against defending champions India at Trent Bridge on Tuesday.

"I really believe we can win it," said Smith after South Africa's win over the West Indies at The Oval.

"But there is a long way to go, a lot of cricket to be played and a lot of good teams in this competition.

"It's been a successful week but a tough one. We get an extra day now before we play India and I'm comfortable with where we are, you can't argue with the performances or the results we have turned out in this competition so far.

"As a team we try to challenge ourselves. There are always things to improve but if we play our best and with our intensity, if we perform to our potential, then we will be difficult to beat."

South Africa made 183 for seven, Herschelle Gibbs top-scoring with 55, before holding the West Indies to 163 for nine in an innings where teenage left-arm quick Wayne Parnell took four wickets for 13 runs.

"You really need to be on top of your game against the West Indies, especially here at the Oval where the conditions suit them," explained Smith.

Parnell, 19, who took three wickets against England, said: "It's still a batsman's game but if you bowl well you can pick up wickets.

"I enjoy bowling at the death. I have developed my yorker in the last 10 months and I am adding other things to my game."

India went down to a seven-wicket loss to the West Indies at Lord's on Friday.

Before they play South Africa they face England on Sunday at Lord's and Smith said of his team's clash with the title-holders: "There is a lot of cricket in the group before that.

"India had not been really tested in the competition until Friday. I think they will have taken a lot of lessons from that.

"It was their first real competitive game so it going to be interesting to see how they go before Tuesday."
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England v South Africa match Score Card | Highlight

Match Statistics

England v South Africa, 14th Match
Trent Bridge, 11 Jun 2009
Umpires: SJ Davis , AL Hill
Toss won by England, Elected to bat
Player of the Match: JH Kallis
South Africa won by 7 wickets


Score Summary
Runs Run Rate Overs
England 111/10 5.60 19.5
South Africa 114/3 6.22 18.2



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England Batting Score Card
Batsman	Status	Runs	Balls	4s	6s	FOW
RS Bopara	b DW Steyn	2	5	0	0	4/1
LJ Wright	ct MV Boucher b WD Parnell	1	6	0	0	4/2
KP Pietersen	ct RE van der Merwe b JA Morkel	19	17	4	0	25/3
OA Shah	ct MV Boucher b JH Kallis	38	33	3	2	88/7
PD Collingwood	b JH Kallis	19	19	2	0	78/4
JS Foster	ct JA Morkel b RE van der Merwe	1	4	0	0	79/5
AD Mascarenhas	b RE van der Merwe	1	3	0	0	82/6
GP Swann	ct JA Morkel b J Botha	5	6	0	0	92/8
SCJ Broad	b WD Parnell	9	8	1	0	111/9
AU Rashid	not out	9	17	0	0
JM Anderson	b WD Parnell	0	1	0	0	111/10
Total	10 wicket(s); 19.5 over(s)	111

South Africa
	Over	MDN	Runs	Wkts	Wide	No
DW Steyn	4.0	0	19	1	1	0
WD Parnell	3.5	0	14	3	1	0
JH Kallis	3.0	0	20	2	0	0
JA Morkel	1.0	1	0	1	0	0
J Botha	4.0	0	25	1	1	0
RE van der Merwe	4.0	0	32	2	2	0

South Africa
Batsman	Status	Runs	Balls	4s	6s	FOW
GC Smith	ct JS Foster b SCJ Broad	11	15	2	0	17/1
JH Kallis	not out	57	49	5	1
HH Gibbs	b GP Swann	30	30	2	1	91/2
AB de Villiers	ct PD Collingwood b AU Rashid	11	12	0	0	108/3
JP Duminy	not out	2	4	0	0
MV Boucher
DW Steyn
J Botha
JA Morkel
WD Parnell
RE van der Merwe
Total	3 wicket(s); 18.2 over(s)	114

England
Bowler	Over	MDN	Runs	Wkts	Wide	No
AD Mascarenhas	4.0	0	22	0	0	0
JM Anderson	3.2	0	27	0	1	0
SCJ Broad	3.0	0	14	1	0	0
GP Swann	4.0	0	26	1	1	0
AU Rashid	4.0	0	24	1	0	0

South Africa
Batsman	Status	Runs	Balls	4s	6s	FOW
GC Smith	ct JS Foster b SCJ Broad	11	15	2	0	17/1
JH Kallis	not out	57	49	5	1
HH Gibbs	b GP Swann	30	30	2	1	91/2
AB de Villiers	ct PD Collingwood b AU Rashid	11	12	0	0	108/3
JP Duminy	not out	2	4	0	0
MV Boucher
DW Steyn
J Botha
JA Morkel
WD Parnell
RE van der Merwe
Total	3 wicket(s); 18.2 over(s)	114

England
Bowler	Over	MDN	Runs	Wkts	Wide	No
AD Mascarenhas	4.0	0	22	0	0	0
JM Anderson	3.2	0	27	0	1	0
SCJ Broad	3.0	0	14	1	0	0
GP Swann	4.0	0	26	1	1	0
AU Rashid	4.0	0	24	1	0	0

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