Gibbs had looked balanced and in control in stroking and pulling four boundaries in his 24 from 28 balls. It was a crucial wicket for the West Indies with South Africa 46/1 in the ninth over.

With Gibbs back in the pavilion the run rate dropped sharply. Boeta Dippenaar, looking to get the score moving, came down the wicket to loft Hooper over extra cover for a magnificent six. The very next ball he came down the pitch again, was beaten by the flight and turn and easily stumped by Jacobs for 20 off 25 balls, including two fours and a six.

Jacques Kallis started with a well-timed straight drive off Vasbert Drakes, following it with a slashing square drive in the following over.

The South African 100 came up in 124 balls before Drakes was replaced by Collins for his third spell. Kallis, driving once too often, edged to a diving Jacobs for 13 and South Africa were in a bit of bother at 104/3.

Things got worse for the hosts when Jonty Rhodes, caught in two minds, tried to run a Hooper delivery down to third man only to bottom edge the ball into the stumps. Out for 2, and South Africa 117/4.

After 25 overs South Africa were 118/4 with Kirsten holding the innings together on 55 and Mark Boucher on one.

The longer Lara stayed at the crease the more menacing he looked, going to his 50 off 78 balls, in 99 minutes including five fours and one six. The 100 partnership came up in 143 balls of which Lara scored 62, having contributed 35 runs in the last 50 of the partnership.

The breakthrough for South Africa came in the 31st over when Klusener had Chanderpaul, trying to steer the ball to third man, caught behind by Mark Boucher standing up for 34. The 102-run partnership falling four runs short of breaking the existing third-wicket partnership for West Indies against South Africa.

Lara, undeterred by the return of both Pollock and Ntini, unleashed some glorious shots. An effortless straight drive off Ntini raced away to the boundary only to be answered by a short ball from the speedster that put the batsman on the seat of his pants as he overbalanced in attempting to avoid the lifter.

Another 50 partnership between Lara and Carl Hooper followed in 48 balls and 39 minutes. Hooper was content to give the strike to his partner, contributing 19 runs to the partnership.

Klusener, back into the attack, felt the brunt of the high Lara backlift. Slapping the first ball for four, Lara followed with a six off the legs over square leg. With 15 runs off the over, Klusener was quickly removed from the attack after bowling only the one over in his second spell.

Donald fared no better, with Hooper cutting and pulling consecutive fours.

Lara, dropped by Kallis off the very first ball he faced, went to a brilliant hundred off 121 balls and 160 minutes including 10 fours and two sixes. His second fifty came off 43 balls.

Lara’s innings could only be ended by brilliance. Trying to loft Ntini over the inner ring on the leg side, he got only a leading edge. Pollock, running and diving towards mid-on from mid-wicket, took an exceptional catch, getting both hands to the ball and holding on as he landed heavily.

With Lara out for 116 off 134 balls, including 12 fours and two sixes, and West Indies 215/5 in the 46th over, all looked good for South Africa.

The Powell-Sarwan partnership changed all that, with a sensational 63 runs in 28 minutes, including seven fours and three sixes.

South Africa, finishing their 50 overs outside the time window, have been fined one over and will only have 49 overs to reach the target of 279.

With the West Indies batsmen looking nervous, Makhaya Ntini followed the lead of his captain by starting with a maiden. It was not until the 20th ball of the innings that the first run appeared on the board with Ntini straying too far outside off.

Pollock’s line paid off when he struck twice in five balls. Wavell Hinds was caught at the wicket without scoring and Gayle was bowled after dragging a drive back into his stumps for two, leaving West Indies seven for two in the seventh over.

It should have been three down when Kallis, diving to his left from second slip, dropped Lara, first ball faced, off the bowling of Ntini. Ntini was bowling to only two fielders on the leg side, fine leg and mid wicket, and just three forward of square, mid wicket, mid off, and cover.

Allan Donald replaced Pollock (6-2-9-2) and conceded the first boundary, after 79 balls of the tournament, when Shivnarine Chanderpaul drove an overpitched ball straight down the ground.

Kallis replaced an impressive Ntini (6-1-10-0).

The West Indies' 50 came up in the 21st over (126 balls) in 88 minutes and included four fours and a straight six from Lara off Donald. Donald (5-0-26-0) struggled with his line and length and was replaced by Lance Klusener.

Lara and Chanderpaul, rotating the strike, nudging into the gaps and punishing the few loose balls received, brought up the 50 partnership off 96 balls in 67 minutes, including four fours and a six with Lara contributing 27 and Chanderpaul 22.

After 25 overs the West Indies score had moved to 67/2 with Lara on 37 and Chanderpaul on 24.

The outfield has survived an awesome opening ceremony, while the pitch looks good enough for the toss not to have a major outcome on the result. Void of any real grass, it appears to be hard, fast and flat, with the ball sure to come onto the bat with expected good carry through to the keeper.

A crucial game for both teams, with the South Africans under added pressure as hosts and knowing that a good start to the tournament is vital.

Carl Hooper called heads and was rewarded by winning the toss and deciding to bat first.

South Africa: Shaun Pollock (captain), Nicky Boje, Mark Boucher (wicket-keeper), Boeta Dippenaar, Allan Donald, Herschelle Gibbs, Jacques Kallis, Gary Kirsten, Lance Klusener, Makhaya Ntini, Jonty Rhodes

West Indies: Carl Hooper (captain), Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Pedro Collins, Merv Dillon, Vasbert Drakes, Chris Gayle, Wavell Hinds, Ridley Jacobs, Brian Lara, Ricardo Powell, Ramnaresh Sarwan