West Indies survive Klusener attack to spring surprise

West Indies 278-7 South Africa 275-9 West Indies win by 3 runs

West Indies withstood a late revival from South Africa to spring an early surprise in the opening match of the World Cup. Brian Lara's brilliant 116 helped the Windies to an impressive 278 for 4 in their 50 overs.

They had looked to be cruising to victory when they reduced the co-hosts to 160 for 6 but a typically stirring knock of 57 from Lance Klusener nearly proved enough only for the Proteas to fall four runs short.

South Africa's two opening bowlers Shaun Pollock and Makhaya Ntini, had settled their side's nerves wonderfully well. After losing the toss, which was in itself a blessing for South Africa, these two kept to a perfect line and length against the West Indian opening batsmen. Backed up by the usual brilliant South African outcricket, they made sure that the West Indies did not take anything like full advantage of winning the toss on this excellent pitch.

Both bowlers stuck rigidly to a tight line on or outside the off-stump and Wavell Hinds or Chris Gayle could do anything about it. The natural angle of delivery slanted the ball across the face of the two left-handers. The batsmen were beaten a number of times as they were drawn into the stroke against balls leaving them and 19 runs came from the first 12 overs.

Four runs, and only one of them off the bat, was the tally from the first five overs when Hinds was caught behind. In the next over Brian Lara felt for one outside his off-stump from Ntini and the ball passed close to Jacques Kallis at second slip and he got his fingertips to it.

For a long time even Lara could do nothing to break the stranglehold. The West Indies lost their second wicket in the seventh over when Gayle, who was clearly growing frustrated, played an expansive drive at a wide half-volley from Pollock which was also a slower ball, and edged it into his stumps.

The first boundary did not come until the 11th over when Shivnarine Chanderpaul straight-drove Pollock. South Africa's captain still returned the excellent figures of 6-2-9-2 in his opening spell. Ntini, who was unlucky not to take a wicket, went for 10 runs in his first six overs and together they gave South Africa a perfect start.

Although they are many people's favourites to win the competition, South Africa are under greater pressure than any of the other sides. Local expectations are willing them to become the first home side to win the World Cup and it would have been only too understandable if they had frozen on their first outing.

Losing the toss was a help too, for they were able to dissipate some of their nervous energy in the field before being asked to bat. If they had batted first, their nerves might just have been too taut for their own good. As it was, they had the chance to settle down until they were both shaken and stirred by Lara and the others at the end. Ricardo Powell hitting 40 from 18 balls and Ramnaresh Sarwan smashing 32 off 15 as the final 10 overs realised 110 runs.

Nothing was more thrilling in the opening overs than the fielding of Jonty Rhodes who is to retire after the competition. He was throwing himself, here, there and everywhere, and one full-length dive at backward point saved four certain runs the first time Lara found the middle of his bat and his mere presence as always prevented the batsmen taking perfectly legitimate singles.

Allan Donald was a less happy sight as he struggled to keep things tight off his short run. His first five overs went for 26 and they included a lovely drive from Lara that soared over mid-off for six. It might sadly be that this tournament is just one competition too far for Donald.

Lara was out of touch to start with, but he played himself back into form and then his strokeplay burst over the scene like a firework display. His 116 was his 16th international one-day century, off 134 balls.

He will have made the South African's especially grateful for those first 12 overs – and he will have brought back a great many of those nerves too as we were to see later when they batted.

CAPE TOWN SCOREBOARD

West Indies won toss

WEST INDIES
C H Gayle b Pollock 2
W W Hinds c Boucher b Pollock 0
B C Lara c Pollock b Ntini 116
S Chanderpaul c Boucher b Klusener 34
C L Hooper c Kallis b Ntini 40
R L Powell not out 40
R R Sarwan not out 32
Extras (lb6, w4, nb4) 14
Total (for 5, 50 overs) 278

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

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

Bowling: Pollock 10-2-52-2; Ntini 10-1-37-2; Donald 9-0-54-0; Kallis 10-2-52-0; Klusener 8-0-53-1; Boje 3-0-24-0.

SOUTH AFRICA
H H Gibbs c Jacobs b Dillon 24
G Kirsten c and b Dillon 69
H H Dippenaar st Jacobs b Hooper 20
J H Kallis c Jacobs b Collins 13
J N Rhodes b Hooper 2
M V Boucher b Gayle 49
S M 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 A Donald not out 0
Extras (lb4, w5, nb3) 12
Total (for 9, 50 overs) 275

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

Bowling: Dillon 10-0-47-2; Collins 9-0-54-1; Drakes 8-1-33-2; Hooper 10-0-63-2; Gayle 10-1-60-2; Powell 2-0-14-0.

Umpires: D J Harper (Aus) and S Venkataraghavan (Ind).