MONDAY, 6.00.PM:
SOUTH AFRICA beat the West Indies by five wickets, with just under two overs to go on Monday, winning a place in the Wills series final. Conditions had favoured the South Africans, but they took full advantage, with brilliant innings by Gary Kirsten, Hansie Cronje and Jonty Rhodes winning the day. And if the South Africans had fielded better, the margin would be even greater.
South African captain Hansie Cronje agreed that their fielding was not good and they allowed West Indies to punish them. “In the end, I think our batsmen did a magnificent job to see us through,” said Cronje.
“We were defending against Pakistan, chasing against West Indies and besides it was nice paying back the West Indians. Don’t forget they stuck us out of the World Cup last year,” added Cronje. He said beating the West Indians by five wickets was more than satisfying.
MONDAY, 1.50.PM:
THE West Indians managed a comfortable 293 for eight wickets in the Wills series clash against South African on Monday. Star of the innings was Carl Hooper, scoring a fine 105. But it was Brian Lara (68) who pulled the West Indies back from disaster, after the opening pair were dismissed for 26.
West Indies
SC Williams run out (de Villiers) 26
SL Campbell c Cullinan b Pollock 0
BC Lara run out (Rhodes) 68
CL Hooper c Cullinan b Donald 105
S Chanderpaul c de Villiers b Cronje 47
PV Simmons not out 18
RN Lewis c de Villiers b Donald 7
CEL Ambrose b de Villiers 6
D Williams b de Villiers 0
Extras (b 1, lb 10, w 4, nb 1) 16
Total (8 wickets, 50 overs) 293
South Africa
C Hudson c Lewis b Ambrose 6
G Kirsten run out (Hooper) 64
L Klusener b Hooper 17
DJ Cullinan b Lewis 23
WJ Cronje run out (Lara) 94
JN Rhodes not out 48
SM Pollock not out 6
Extras (b 1, lb 2, w 11, nb 13) 27
Total (5 wickets, 46 overs) 286