Gibbs back, SA make merry

MUMBAI: Herschelle Gibbs resumed playing cricket less than 24 hours after being questioned by the Delhi Police about the match-fixing case in 2000 as South Africa finished off the last of their practice games before the ICC Champions Trophy in style, thrashing a second-string Mumbai side by 125 runs at the Wankhede Stadium here on Friday.

Batting first, Graeme Smith’s men made merry in perfect batting conditions to pile up 303-6 in 50 overs. Mumbai, being captained by left-arm spinner Nilesh Kulkarni,  faltered to end up scoring just 178-8 in reply.

When South Africa batted, the spotlight was naturally on Gibbs, who opened the innings with Smith.

Gibbs looked in good touch as long as he was at the crease, striking four boundaries during his brief knock to indicate that the grilling session that he underwent at the Delhi Police headquarters on Wednesday had failed to distract him mentally.

The only significant event during Mumbai’s reply was when the South Africans had a go at Amol Mazumdar, after a loud appeal against him had been rejected. Bowler Andre Nel, and later Justin Kemp, standing at short-mid-wicket, exchanged a few words with Mazumdar, after they thought he had nicked one to the ’keeper.

Brief scores: South Africa: 303-6 in 50 overs (Smith 76, Kallis 71 not out, Boucher 49; Kulkarni 3-41) beat Mumbai: 178-8 in 50 overs (Mazumdar 67) by 125 runs