da dobrowin： Justin Kemp put on a repeat of his match-winning knock in the Champions Trophy
Dileep Premachandran in Cape Town26-Nov-2006
Justin Kemp launches another one over the top © Getty Images
Having come in with the scoreboard showing 71 for 5, Justin Kemp playedthe sort of audacious innings that he has become renowned for, smashing an89-ball century as South Africa turned a tough situation into acomprehensive 106-run triumph. Kemp had made just 35 from 62 balls when hedecided to step it up a notch. When he did, India had no answer.”We were just trying to play as well as we could,” he said, when askedwhat his thoughts has been when he arrived at the crease. “I only realisedthat I could get a hundred when I got to 99. [Andrew] Hall played well andmade it easy for me.”Kemp and Mark Boucher had pulled off a similar feat in the recentChampions Trophy, when they helped take South Africa from 42 for 5 to amatch-winning total against Pakistan. “I’ve done it before and that makesit easier,” he said. “The dropped catches helped.”Of late, South Africa have sent Boucher in at No.6 with Kemp followinghim. When asked if this innings might prompt a rethink and lead to apromotion up the order, Kemp wasn’t unduly bothered. “I’ve done well whenI come after 35 overs,” he said. “That’s a decision the coach and captainhave to make. That’s not an issue at all. I am just happy to contributewith the bat.”He said that the length the Indians bowled in the final overs had playedinto his hands. “We got the ball rolling in the last 10 overs,” he said.”The Indian bowlers changed tactics and went pretty full. That was perhapsa mistake. I think the ball just short of a length was difficult to play.They were bowling pretty full. When I hit my first six off Zaheer Khan,suddenly they changed tactics. It was a lot easier when the guys weretrying to bowl yorkers.”Not having had the best of years, Kemp was happy to be back in the battinggroove, having made his reputation with some blistering knocks againstEngland two seasons ago. “India [Champions Trophy] was quite tough,” hesaid. “We only played four games in a month. It was just a matter ofspending time in the middle.”Having spent a bit of time in the middle, it will make my job easy comingin the death overs. That’s my job in the side and I’ve got to do it to thebest of my ability. If I get an opportunity like this it’s a bonus.”India can only hope that Kemp doesn’t get opportunities like this too often.