7th ODI: West Indies v South Africa at St Vincent, 16 May 2001 CricInfo Live Report

7th ODI: West Indies v South Africa at St Vincent, 16 May 2001
Marcus Prior

Pre-game: Toss,
South Africa innings: Innings,

WEST INDIES RESTRICT SOUTH AFRICA TO 163/7 IN FINAL ONE-DAY INTERNATIONAL

A superb opening spell from fast bowler Cameron Cuffy, playing for the West Indies on his home ground for the first time, helped restrict South Africa to 163-7 from their 50 overs after the tourists won the toss and decided to bat in the seventh and final one-day international at Arnos Vale on Wednesday.

Cuffy tore through the South African top order, picking up 3-24 as he bowled his 10 overs straight through from the start in a superb exhibition of pace bowling. Fast and accurate and with useful support from Corey Collymore at the other end, Cuffy reduced South Africa to a disastrous 40-4, a position from which they never properly recovered.

Only a resolute 69 from 147 balls from Jacques Kallis held the South African innings together and saved his side from complete embarrasment at the end of a series they lead 5-1.

After seeing out the first over, Herschelle Gibbs (1) went into gun-slinging mood but lost a game of Russian roulette with Cuffy, top-edging a hook towrds fine leg where Collymore took a fine catch in the swirling breeze.

Three overs later opening partner Gary Kirsten was gone, brilliantly caught by Daren Ganga at square-leg. Kirsten (6) pulled Collymore firmly but turned to see Ganga fly full length to his right and pluck the ball one-handed from the sky. The 21-year-old Justin Ontong (2) received the chance he has been waiting for with a promotion up the order to number four - but he also received a beauty from Cuffy which he edged into the safe hands of Chris Gayle at second slip. Neil McKenzie (13) was Cuffy's third victim, looking to drive over the top but just failing to clear Ganga at mid-off.

Jonty Rhodes also struggled to make an impression in his 200th one-day game for South Africa, restricted to 16 off 33 balls before he looked to force left-arm spinner Neil McGarrell through the off side and edged the ball onto his stumps.

The consolidation continued with the arrival of Mark Boucher to join Kallis, but runs continued to come intermittently as neither batsman was able to wrest the initiative away from the West Indian bowlers. The frustration eventually told, as Boucher (25) swung Samuels straight down McGarrell's throat on the mid-wicket boundary.

Kallis fell as the final slog struggled to materialise, heaving Samuels to Brian Lara at midwicket, Justin Kemp (12 not out) and Shaun Pollock (6 not out) unable to find the boundary even once as the overs ran out.

SOUTH AFRICA BAT FIRST IN FINAL ONE-DAY INTERNATIONAL AGAINST WEST INDIES

South African captain Shaun Pollock won the toss and elected to bat in the seventh and final one-day international against the West Indies in St Vincent on Wednesday.

The South Africans, who lead the series 5-1, made three change to the side that won the sixth ODI on Saturday. Gary Kirsten, Justin Ontong and Makhaya Ntini all came back into the team for Boeta Dippenaar, Paul Adams and Andre Nel respectively.

In the West Indian team, Chris Gayle came back to open the batting again with Ricardo Powell dropping out and Neil McGarrell replaced Dinanath Ramnarine.

Teams

West Indies: Chris Gayle, Daren Ganga, Brian Lara, Carl Hooper (capt), Shinarine Chanderpaul, Marlon Samuels, Neil McGarrell, Kerry Jeremy, Cameron Cuffy, Cory Colleymore.

South Africa: Gary Kirsten, Herschelle Gibbs, Jacques Kallis, Neil McKenzie, Jonty Rhodes, Justin Kemp, Shaun Pollock (capt), Mark Boucher, Justin Ontong, Roger Telemachus, Makhaya Ntini.