Klusener, van der Warth shine in South Africa's 13-run win

Lance Klusener and Johannes van der Warth propelled South Africa to a 13-run win over India in the Hong Kong Sixes played at the Kowloon Cricket Club on Saturday. With their second successive win of the day, the Proteas now have have almost assured themselves of a place in the Championship round.

Klusener and van der Wath came together for the second time in the day after the two South African openers - Lungile Bosman and Gerald Dros - were yet again dismissed within the first over. Displaying the batting form that helped South Africa to canter to a win in their opening encounter against Sri Lanka, Klusener and van der Watch waded into the task of ensuring that an imposing target was set.

Klusener made 34 off 10 balls with three fours and one six, while van der Wath ended up with 31 off a similar number of deliveries. The 27-year-old cracked two boundaries and three sixes before he too was forced to retire. With another all-rounder Alfonso Thomas making 15 off just four balls with two balls and one six, South Africa ended their innings just three shy of 100.

The Indians had a few batsmen of repute, but chasing the imposing target was still going to prove an onerous task for them. Hemang Badani (31 off 10 balls with two fours and three sixes) and Hrishikesh Kanitkar (30* off 12 balls with four fours and a six) made a spirited chase. In the end, however, even they could not avoid South Africa from registering an easy win.

The Proteas, who have beaten Sri Lanka and India - the two tough teams in the group - have now virtually booked their places in the Championship round. All that now remains to be seen is who among the Lankans and Indians will join them there.