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After the wonderful opening ceremony the crowds were eager to see the hosts win the opening match, which was however clinched by the mighty West Indians with some spectacular display of talent from Brian Lara. With this win, West Indies secured four deserving points, as Lara was awarded the man-of-the match.
Brian Lara secured his 16th one-day hundred, as West Indies recovered from a shaky start to post an impressive total of 278 for five in the opening World Cup Group B game against South Africa on Sunday.
Chasing a target of 279, South Africa struggled till the end as they secured 275/9 three runs short. They were fined an over for a slow over rate.
Lance Klusener was the only one who bought some hope to the side with 57 from 48 balls and leading the team close to victory.
Herschelle Gibbs and Gary Kirsten got the South African innings off to a good start, adding 46 before Mervyn Dillon dismissed Gibbs for 24.
Boeta Dippenaar soon followed as Hooper stumped him for 20. Kallis edged to Jacobs for 13, while Hooper dismissed Jonty Rhodes for 2. South Africa were struggling at 117 for the loss of 4 crucial wickets. Kirsten and Boucher moved the score to 155 before Kirsten was caught and bowled by Dillon for 69. Boucher had secured 49, at a run a ball, before being dismissed by Gayle.
Klusener, then came on to the attack and kept the runs flowing with the fours and sixes, thereby pushing the score closer to the target. It was really exciting, as South Africa required nine off the last over, bowled by Vasbert Drakes. However, Klusener mistimed the third ball and was caught by Hooper inside the boundary. South Africa were 271 for 8, when Boje joined Ntini on the crease.
Ntini hoisted the fifth ball into the deep for Sarwan to take a comfortable catch with the score still on 271. With eight runs needed off only one ball, Boje managed to play the ball to boundary and West Indies won the match by just three runs.
Dillon, Collins, Drakes, Hooper and Gayle, secured two wickets each.
Earlier, Lara came to the crease after skipper Shaun Pollock claimed both the openers, Wavell Hinds for a duck and Chris Gayle for 2 and West Indies were struggling at seven for two in the seventh over.
South Africa had full control in the initial stages but then Lara and Shivnarine Chanderpaul staged a brilliant recovery. Together they added 102 runs for
the third wicket before Chanderpaul was caught by Boucher off Klusener for 34.
Lara then continued to attack with good support from Carl Hooper. Ntini then managed to break the secondpartnership of 89 runs as he dismissed Hopper for 40.Lara left the field to standing ovation aftertop-edging a pull at Makhaya Ntini. He had secured 116 off 134 balls that included 12 fours and two sixes.
West Indies were 215 for 5 with just four overs left, when Ramnaresh Sarwan joined Ricardo Powell on the crease. A 63-run onslaught in the final four overs, 23-runs from Pollock's penultimate over, by Ricardo and Sarwan helped West Indies post an imposing total of 278 for 5. Ricardo finished with an unbeaten 40 off only balls, while Sarwan secured 32 off 15 balls.
Apart for the one expensive over, Pollock was again on line and length, claiming the first two crucial wickets. Ntini too was good as he finished with 2/37 in his ten overs.
The game was quite entertaining especially when Lara was on the crease and ofcourse during the last overs of the South African innings.
Brian Lara secured his 16th one-day hundred, as West Indies recovered from a shaky start to post an impressive total of 278 for five in the opening World Cup Group B game against South Africa on Sunday.
Chasing a target of 279, South Africa struggled till the end as they secured 275/9 three runs short. They were fined an over for a slow over rate.
Lance Klusener was the only one who bought some hope to the side with 57 from 48 balls and leading the team close to victory.
Herschelle Gibbs and Gary Kirsten got the South African innings off to a good start, adding 46 before Mervyn Dillon dismissed Gibbs for 24.
Boeta Dippenaar soon followed as Hooper stumped him for 20. Kallis edged to Jacobs for 13, while Hooper dismissed Jonty Rhodes for 2. South Africa were struggling at 117 for the loss of 4 crucial wickets. Kirsten and Boucher moved the score to 155 before Kirsten was caught and bowled by Dillon for 69. Boucher had secured 49, at a run a ball, before being dismissed by Gayle.
Klusener, then came on to the attack and kept the runs flowing with the fours and sixes, thereby pushing the score closer to the target. It was really exciting, as South Africa required nine off the last over, bowled by Vasbert Drakes. However, Klusener mistimed the third ball and was caught by Hooper inside the boundary. South Africa were 271 for 8, when Boje joined Ntini on the crease.
Ntini hoisted the fifth ball into the deep for Sarwan to take a comfortable catch with the score still on 271. With eight runs needed off only one ball, Boje managed to play the ball to boundary and West Indies won the match by just three runs.
Dillon, Collins, Drakes, Hooper and Gayle, secured two wickets each.
Earlier, Lara came to the crease after skipper Shaun Pollock claimed both the openers, Wavell Hinds for a duck and Chris Gayle for 2 and West Indies were struggling at seven for two in the seventh over.
South Africa had full control in the initial stages but then Lara and Shivnarine Chanderpaul staged a brilliant recovery. Together they added 102 runs for
the third wicket before Chanderpaul was caught by Boucher off Klusener for 34.
Lara then continued to attack with good support from Carl Hooper. Ntini then managed to break the secondpartnership of 89 runs as he dismissed Hopper for 40.Lara left the field to standing ovation aftertop-edging a pull at Makhaya Ntini. He had secured 116 off 134 balls that included 12 fours and two sixes.
West Indies were 215 for 5 with just four overs left, when Ramnaresh Sarwan joined Ricardo Powell on the crease. A 63-run onslaught in the final four overs, 23-runs from Pollock's penultimate over, by Ricardo and Sarwan helped West Indies post an imposing total of 278 for 5. Ricardo finished with an unbeaten 40 off only balls, while Sarwan secured 32 off 15 balls.
Apart for the one expensive over, Pollock was again on line and length, claiming the first two crucial wickets. Ntini too was good as he finished with 2/37 in his ten overs.
The game was quite entertaining especially when Lara was on the crease and ofcourse during the last overs of the South African innings.
