South Africa, led by the tireless Makhaya Ntini, bowled with purpose to dismiss West Indies for 253 in 48.5 overs in the first one-day International of their best-of-five series here on Saturday.
Ntini, one of the two bowling thorns in the West Indies side during the Test series which South Africa won 2-0, was the most successful bowler with four wickets for 46 runs from his allotment of 10 overs.
Charl Langveldt and Andre Nel supported Ntini with two wickets apiece, after West Indies chose to bat on a hard, true Sabina Park pitch under clear, blue skies.
Former vice captain Ramnaresh Sarwan was the top scorer for West Indies with three fours and one six in 72 from 111 balls.
He added 106 for the fourth wicket with West Indies captain Shivnarine Chanderpaul, who hit four fours and one six in 49 from 56 balls.
Dwayne Smith, making his return to the West Indies side, also provided some pyrotechnics with 46 from 36 balls that contained four fours and two sixes.
Ntini snared two early wickets that sent West Indies sliding to 56 for three in the 16th over.
He had Wavell Hinds bowled for five off the inside edge in the sixth over, and in his next over, the eighth, Chris Gayle was stunningly caught left-handed at extra cover for 26 by Herschelle Gibbs.
Nel inflicted more agony by claiming Brian Lara’s wicket when the left-handed batting star was caught at deep backward square leg for eight.
Sarwan and Chanderpaul batted studiously to repair the damage.
They mixed aggressive running between the wickets with piercing strokes for boundaries and were just beginning to warm up for happy hour when Ntini was brought back and struck a vital blow.
The left-handed Chanderpaul was caught behind chasing a short, rising, wide ball in the 36th over to stem the flow of runs, and West Indies were set back further when Sarwan was stumped down the leg-side off a wide ball from Shaun Pollock.
Smith lifted the tempo of the West Indies batting with some extraordinary blows, but the home team badly lost their way with the last five wickets falling for 21 runs in the space of three overs.
The second match of the series will be contested on Sunday. – Sapa-AFP