Standard Bank wishes to thank Graeme Smith for his exemplary service as captain of the International Pro20 team. We have enjoyed a fruitful and professional relationship with Graeme, not least in his capacity as captain in the many international twenty-over events held in South Africa: the launch of International Pro20s in October 2005, as well as the inaugural ICC World Twenty20 event in 2007.
GRAEME SMITH announced on Wednesday his intention to stand down as national captain of the Standard Bank Pro20 International squad with immediate effect and as captain of the Standard Bank ODI squad at the conclusion of the 2011 ICC World Cup next year.
He will remain captain of the Castle Test squad and will be available for selection for the Proteas in all three formats of the game.
South Africa have improved their unassailable lead to 4 with one to play as they have beaten West Indies by 7 wickets in Windsor Park, Roseau, Dominica.
West Indies played a very well paced and balanced innings with runs from Dale Richards (59), Shiv Chanderpaul (66) and the Bravo bothers (46 and 45), set up a big total of 303 for 6 in their 50 overs. Their demanding total was quickly taken away from them with a superlative innings from Hashim Amla (129) and was given good support by Jacques Kallis (51) and AB de Villiers (57)
A strong batting performance by Albie Morkel and AB de Villiers lifted South Africa to a strong winning total of 170 for just 4 wickets in their allotted 20 overs, giving the proteas a 13 run victory, after New Zealand could only muster 157 for 7 in Bridgetown, Barbados.
South Africa finally got their first win of the tournament with a brutal 59 run victory over Afghanistan, and with it, secured their place in the Super 8 stage. I don't really want to say that they were ever in doubt, but their batting may have left a few people with a few jitters.
Over the last few weeks of IPL, sport fans are being treated to another spectacle as the cricketing world heads into into the ICC World T20 in the West Indies.
The tournament kicks off next Friday, 30 April, with New Zealand taking on Sri Lanka which could prove to be a cracker!
The format starts off in four groups of 3 teams each. Group A:Pakistan, Bangladesh, Australia
