When someone slams 156 runs off 140 balls in the first match he is playing in a big tournament like the World Cup, you know that you better keep a keen eye on him. Jacques Rudolph has caught the eye of everyone who witnessed his knock against Nepal. Rudolph showed how to build a large innings without losing tempo, and that was the key to South Africa posting a large total.

When the ball was pitched up to him, Rudolph had no hesitation in thumping it cleanly through the line and over the top of the infield. When he cleared the infield, the ball invariably found its way to the boundary. The shot of the day was a full blooded on drive that sailed well over the boundary ropes and landed about 20 feet behind the ropes. To keep his 12 fours company, Rudolph clubbed 2 sixes as well. When the runs weren't coming as easily as they should have, Rudolph turned the ball away neatly into the gaps and picked up quick twos. His knock was the backbone of the South African innings.

As if all that wasn't enough, Rudolph sprang to life on the field and effected the first wicket of the Nepal innings by running out Kiran Agarwal with a direct hit. When the captain threw Rudolph the ball to roll his arm over, Rudolph struck again, and Virender Shah caught before the batsman could open his account. When rain came down, Rudolph had figures of 2-0-4-1. Jacques Rudolph was by far the best player on the day.

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