ANDREW HUDSON'S World Cup prayers came true in Rawalpindi yesterday as he cracked 161 against Holland to complete a clean sweep for South Africa's record breakers.
The Natal player's first major innings in the tournament made a fifth consecutive group B victory a formality for Hansie Cronje's side against a wilting Dutch team. The South Africans, choosing to bat, amassed 328 for three, their best one-day total, before limiting the Dutch to 168 for eight to ease home by 160 runs.
A relaxed Cronje said: "The sudden death starts now - and so does the hard work. We realise if we lose one from here we're out. We'll have a day off and then get down to it for the next four before the quarter-final in Karachi."
He praised Hudson's personal best, saying: "I'm glad he's running into some form now. That gives us a lot of options." Hudson's opening partnership of 186 with Gary Kirsten, who made 83, was a World Cup best.
The World Cup record for an individual score - 188 set by Kirsten against the United Arab Emirates - looked in his sights as he brought up his 150 in the 43rd over with a short-arm pick-up for six off Eric Gouka. The next ball also sailed into the leg side stands but Hudson's attempt to make it a hat-trick ended with the ball landing in the safe hands of Bas Zuiderent at square leg.
The Dutch, who had been forced to open their bowling with off-spinner Steve Lubbers, produced a spirited response, with openers Rolan Clarke and Peter Cantrell cracking 42 off the first 10 overs and 56 in all before Craig Matthews removed the former Queenslander, caught and bowled off a slower delivery.
Four wickets were to fall for 30 runs and the Dutch qualifiers, beaten in all their four previous games, dug in as they restricted themselves to survival.
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