South Africa's A.B. de Villiers plays a shot as Scotland's wicketkeeper Colin Smith watches during their match in Basseterre, yesterday. De Villiers made 62. - Reuters

BASSETERRE, St. Kitts (AP):

Graeme Smith's 91 and Andrew Hall's three wickets were the highlights of South Africa's seven-wicket win over Scotland in their World Cup Group A match yesterday.

Smith hit 13 boundaries from 65 balls as South Africa, helped by A.B. de Villiers' 62, overtook Scotland's total of 186 for eight with more than 26 overs still to be bowled at Warner Park.

Hall had earlier taken 3-50 and Charl Langeveldt 2-48, their figures inflated by a late flurry of shots as Dougie Brown (45), John Blain (23) and Paul Hoffman (18) took Scotland to their best World Cup score.

Smith and de Villiers, who hit nine fours and two sixes in 45 balls, shared a 134-run opening stand to set up South Africa's comfortable victory, four days before the group's defining clash with Australia.

Smith won the toss and opted to field, with Makhaya Ntini's return for fast bowler Andre Nel the only change to the team that beat the Netherlands by 221 runs on Friday.

Both teams and match officials, who all wore black arm-bands, lined up on either side of the pitch to observe a minute's silence as a mark of respect for Bob Woolmer.

Scotland play their final game against The Netherlands tomorrow.

Black Caps advance to Super Eights

GROS ISLET, St. Lucia (AP):

NEW ZEALAND advanced to the Super Eights yesterday with Ross Taylor's 85 leading the Black Caps to their highest World Cup total in a 148-run win over Kenya.

Taylor struggled late in his innings with a hamstring strain and needed a runner. He did not field.

Skipper Stephen Fleming (60), Scott Styris (63) and Craig McMillan (71 from 48 balls) also contributed half centuries to help New Zealand to 331 for seven.

Kenya were dismissed for 183 in the last over, with recalled pace bowler Michael Mason taking 2-29 and James Franklin 2-20 for New Zealand.

Having secured four points against their two main rivals, New Zealand can now take it easy in their final group game against Canada tomorrow - a match Taylor will be rested for, a team spokesmansaid.

Kenya's chase was interrupted by two rain delays and hampered by poor batting and sharp New Zealand fielding - Lou Vincent was responsible for two of the three run-outs, which made up for him failing to score while opening the batting for the second consecutive match.

It could have been 12 for two but Taylor was dropped by a diving Tamray Mishra and he and Fleming punished that mistake, putting on 105 runs for a second-wicket stand.

Fleming was undone taking a needless single soon after, run out by Maurice Ouma from square leg.

Taylor hit six fours but strained his right hamstring in the 32nd over and needed Vincent as a runner. Daryl Tuffey replaced him in the field.

Taylor only lasted 10 more deliveries before popping a return catch to Steve Tikolo. He also added 87 runs with Styris, who led New Zealand to their six-wicket win over England last Friday.