Kallis happy to silence critics

GEORGETOWN – South Africa batsman Jacques Kallis silenced his critics with a second successive World Cup Super Eights half-century.

Kallis came under fire after his 63-ball 48 against defending champions Australia in a group match his team lost while chasing a massive 378-run target in St Kitts last month. That was his only below-50 score in five matches.The top-order batsman scored an unbeaten 66 in his team’s seven-wicket victory over debutants Ireland in a rain-hit second-round game here on Tuesday.He had already made a solid 86 in the previous match against Sri Lanka.”I’ve never minded the criticism.There are some lines you don’t cross, and some did when it came to that issue.I know who they are, and I’ll remember that in future,” said Kallis, who was named man of the match.”I’m not going to change my game because some people are unhappy with it.I have a role to play within the team.No-one’s position in the team can be taken for granted, and people are entitled to their opinions.”Kallis, 31, began the tournament on an impressive note when he hammered an unbeaten 128 against the Netherlands, and his two consecutive half-centuries here proved that nothing was wrong with his form.”We have an important few weeks ahead of us and hopefully I can play a big role in helping South Africa move forward,” said Kallis, who has so far scored 8,848 runs in 252 one-day internationals.South Africa will meet Bangladesh here on Saturday before taking on New Zealand, England, the West Indies.They have four points from three matches.”After the last game I think we wanted to make sure we finished properly,” Kallis said, referring to the match against Sri Lanka when South Africa nearly lost their way in the final overs.South Africa were strongly placed at 206-5 chasing a modest total of 210 before winning by just one wicket, following fast bowler Lasith Malinga’s four wickets off successive deliveries.Nampa-AFPThat was his only below-50 score in five matches.The top-order batsman scored an unbeaten 66 in his team’s seven-wicket victory over debutants Ireland in a rain-hit second-round game here on Tuesday.He had already made a solid 86 in the previous match against Sri Lanka.”I’ve never minded the criticism.There are some lines you don’t cross, and some did when it came to that issue.I know who they are, and I’ll remember that in future,” said Kallis, who was named man of the match.”I’m not going to change my game because some people are unhappy with it.I have a role to play within the team.No-one’s position in the team can be taken for granted, and people are entitled to their opinions.”Kallis, 31, began the tournament on an impressive note when he hammered an unbeaten 128 against the Netherlands, and his two consecutive half-centuries here proved that nothing was wrong with his form.”We have an important few weeks ahead of us and hopefully I can play a big role in helping South Africa move forward,” said Kallis, who has so far scored 8,848 runs in 252 one-day internationals.South Africa will meet Bangladesh here on Saturday before taking on New Zealand, England, the West Indies.They have four points from three matches.”After the last game I think we wanted to make sure we finished properly,” Kallis said, referring to the match against Sri Lanka when South Africa nearly lost their way in the final overs.South Africa were strongly placed at 206-5 chasing a modest total of 210 before winning by just one wicket, following fast bowler Lasith Malinga’s four wickets off successive deliveries.Nampa-AFP