Cricket: West Indies beat South Africa by 3 runs

9.35am

CAPE TOWN - Brian Lara inspired West Indies to an upset three-run victory over hosts South Africa after an extraordinary finish to the opening World Cup Group B match on Sunday.

Lara struck a masterful 116 after being dropped first ball to help West Indies rack up 278 for five from their 50 overs. The South Africans finished on 275 for nine despite a defiant 57 from 48 balls by Lance Klusener which gave them hope of an unlikely win after they had slumped to 204 for seven.


A West Indies victory looked a remote possibility when, after winning the toss, they slumped to seven for two and had to wait until the 13th over to hit their first boundary.


But Lara, spilled by Jacques Kallis one-handed at second slip, received good support from Shivnarine Chanderpaul and captain Carl Hooper on the way to his 16th one-day international century, which included two sixes and 10 fours.

*South Africa captain Shaun Pollock removed openers Wavell Hinds and Chris Gayle to leave West Indies reeling at 7-2.


*Lara fended at his first ball from Makhaya Ntini and Kallis just failed to hold a one-handed catch at second slip.


*Lara smashed Donald straight for the first six of the tournament and reached his 50 from 78 balls. *With Shivnarine Chanderpaul (34) and Hooper (40) providing steady support, Lara continued to bat beautifully and reached his second World Cup century from 121 balls, including two sixes and 10 fours.


*Lara fell for 116 but Ricardo Powell clubbed a quickfire 40 as he and Ramnaresh Sarwan (32) bludgeoned a quickfire partnership of 63.


*Herschelle Gibbs fell to Merv Dillon for 24 and Boeta Dippenaar was stumped by Ridley Jacobs off Hooper for 20. *Kallis edged a drive off Collins to Jacobs. 104-3. *The dependable Kirsten reached his half century off 67 balls before Hooper tricked Jonty Rhodes to bowl him for two.


*Gary Kirsten lobbed the easiest of return catches to Dillon for 69 and Pollock was caught by Gayle off Hooper for four. 160-6.


*Boucher took 16 off a Hooper over in partnership with Lance Klusener before he was yorked by Gayle for 49.


*Klusener struck three sixes in an over from Gayle to give his side hope and continued to flay the attack to leave the South Africans needing nine off the final over.


*Klusener caught at deep mid-wicket by Hooper with three balls remaining.


*Makhaya Ntini caught by Sarwan, leaving South Africa needing eight off the last ball, which Nicky Boje hit for four.

West Indies C.Gayle b Pollock 2 W.Hinds c Boucher b Pollock 0 B.Lara c Pollock b Ntini 116 S.Chanderpaul c Boucher b Klusener 34 C.Hooper c Kallis b Ntini 40 R.Powell not out 40 R.Sarwan not out 32 Extras (lb-6 nb-4 w-4) 14 Total (for five wickets, 50 overs) 278

Fall of wickets: 1-4 2-7 3-109 4-198 5-215

Did not bat: R.Jacobs, V.Drakes, M.Dillon, P.Collins

Bowling: Pollock 10-2-52-2 (nb-1), Ntini 10-1-37-2 (w-2), Donald 9-54-0 (nb-1, w-1), Kallis 10-2-53-0, Klusener 8-0-53-1 (nb-2), Boje 3-0-24-0 (w-1)

South Africa H.Gibbs c Jacobs b Dillon 24 G.Kirsten c & b Dillon 69 B.Dippenaar st Jacobs b Hooper 20 J.Kallis c Jacobs b Collins 13 J.Rhodes b Hooper 2 M.Boucher b Gayle 49 S.Pollock c Hooper b Gayle 4 L.Klusener c Hooper b Drakes 57 N.Boje not out 25 M.Ntini c Sarwan b Drakes 0 A.Donald not out 0 Extras (lb-4 nb-3 w-5) 12 Total (for nine wickets, 49 overs) 275

Fall of wickets: 1-46 2-79 3-104 4-117 5-155 6-160 7-204 8-271 9-271

Bowling: Dillon 10-0-47-2 (w-1), Collins 9-0-54-1 (nb-1, w-1), Drakes 8-1-33-2 (nb-1), Hooper 10-0-63-2 (nb-1), Gayle 10-1-60-2 (w-2), Powell 2-0-14-0 (w-1)

Result: West Indies win by 3 runs

- REUTERS

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