Record-breaking Tahir seals Proteas win

IMRAN TAHIR recorded the best analysis ever by a South African bowler and also became the quickest man from his country to reach 100 wickets as the Standard Bank Proteas stormed to a 139-run, bonus-point win over West Indies in their latest Tri-Nation One-Day International (ODI) at Warner Park in St Kitts on Wednesday. The veteran leg spinner took 7/45 in nine overs as the hosts were shot out for 204 in 38 overs – in pursuit of 344 for victory. His figures were ninth on the list of all-time best figures and beat the previous best mark of 6/16 by Kagiso Rabada for a player from South Africa.
Tahir, 37, also took his overall tally of ODI wickets to 105 in 58 matches, in the process becoming the fastest to cross the 100 mark. He bettered the record of 59 matches that was previously held by Morne Morkel. His efforts with the ball completely overshadowed what had transpired in the first half of the game when Hashim Amla notched up his 23rd ODI century to help the Proteas pile up 343/4.
The opener hit 110 (99 balls, 13 fours) to provide the South Africans with the perfect platform and leave the home side needing what would have been a record second-innings total to win. The masterly Amla shared in an opening stand of 182 with Quinton de Kock, who ground out a more measured 71 (103 balls, 6 fours). Faf du Plessis was the one that had provided the fireworks for the visitors with his unbeaten 73 (50 balls, 2 sixes, 6 fours), while Chris Morris, promoted to number three, initiated the attack with a quick-fire 40 (26 balls, 2 sixes, 2 fours). West Indies did manage a decent enough start as they had raced along nicely to 90/2 at one stage, but it was then the spin duo of Tabraiz Shamsi and Tahir that sliced through their line-up.
Shamsi, playing in only his second ODI, took 2/41 in nine overs, including the wicket of top-scorer Johnson Charles (49), and left the rest to Tahir as the South Africans secured a memorable win.
They took a full five points from the game and shot from bottom to the top of the table with 10 points, two ahead of the hosts and one ahead of Australia, who they play again on Sunday.