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WI v SA : 4th ODI

Monday, February 2 2004

A brilliant cameo from Brian Lara proved icing on the cake in a comfortable win for the West Indies over South Africa. Entering the fourth ODI of the 5-game series, down 2-0, the West Indies had everything to play for, but lost the toss for the third time in the series.

Batting first South Africa got off to a decent start of 53 when Gibbs (18) was dismissed by Dillon. For the second time in the series Peterson was promoted to get the run rate going, but was rather more tame than expected in getting 36 from 43 balls. Jacques Kallis strode to the wicket and looked in the breathtaking form which he has been for the entire summer.

Graeme Smith (46) was dispatched by Gayle and recent hero Boeta Dippenaar joined Kallis in the middle. The 50-run partnership came up from 60 balls and the two batsmen comfortably scored off the West Indian bowlers on the flat Centurion pitch. Lara called Sarwan into the attack and it brought success with Dippenaar (30) dragging back a typical legbreak onto his stumps. Kallis reached his half-century from 64 balls and continued began to accelerate with Klusener at his side.

While on the way out to bat, 'Zulu' received a huge round of applause to signify his first innings on his return to the South Africa senior side. He never looked completely comfortable, but managed to get away a couple of boundaries and a flat six over long on. Kallis on the other hand, had no problems and launched a couple of effortless sixes to accompany his seven fours as he finished the innings unbeaten on 95, facing only 97 balls - another masterclass innings.

Collymore bowled the fiftieth over of the South African innings manfully, allowing only 4 runs to be scored and finishing with deceptive figures of 10-0-52-0. South Africa closed on a challenging 297/4, especially considering that the largest total chased successfully at Centurion was 284.

Desperately lacking a proper start thus far in the series, Gayle blazed away at the top, hitting two sixes and two fours in 26 from 22 balls. He was dismissed in trying to hit another boundary off Pollock, this time only finding Peterson at cover. Fresh off his impressive fifty in the third game washout, Powell once again came in at three. Immediately he looked on form and played a couple of glorious strokes in tandem with an accelerating Chanderpaul, and the score raced to 74/1 after ten overs.

The introduction of Kallis saw the run rate slowed, with a series of slower balls deceiving the batsmen. This new-found pressure paid off when Powell (34) was comprehensively bowled by a Kallis off-cutter which beat his outside edge to collapse offstump. The West Indian vice-captain replaced Powell and rotated the strike with ease throughout his unbeaten innings of 77. Acting in a Michael Bevan role, he supported Chanderpaul superbly, who in turn batted superbly.

Chanderpaul reached fifty from 48 balls, an innings which included some outstanding shots, none more than a clip over the fine leg rope of Klusener. Ultimately the two Guyanese batsmen added 108 runs for the third wicket and, when Chanderpaul nibbled at Pollock to be out for 92, the game seemed well in the hands of the tourists. Chanderpaul's innings lasted 75 balls and included ten fours to go with his two sixes.

Lara joined his deputy with 98 runs still needed from 105 balls and he stamped his class immediately with two boundaries in a Kallis over. From there the two worked the ball about very easily, picking up the odd boundary in stride. In a last gasp effort Peterson was brought back into the attack and Lara took two boundaries in scoring 12 runs from the 4 balls he faced him for.

Intent on finishing the innings with a flourish, the West Indian captain shifted his aggression to Nel, lofting him effortlessly over midwicket for six, the swinging him over mid on for four. The target was breached three balls after, due an inside edge past leg stump to the boundary, Lara ending unbeaten on 59 off only 37 balls. Amazingly, Ntini (0/51) and Nel (0/63) combined for figures of 13-0-114-0 for South Africa.

Expectedly Chanderpaul was named the Man of the Match and the West Indies now go into the fifth and final match of the series with hopes of levelling at two game apiece.

Match Summary:

South Africa 297/4 (50 overs)
(JH Kallis 95* [97], L Klusener 41* [38], GC Smith 46 [62])
(RR Sarwan 1/15 [2], R Rampaul 1/49 [9], CH Gayle 1/53 [10], M Dillon 1/58 [9])

West Indies 300/3 (45 overs)
(S Chanderpaul 92 [75], RR Sarwan 77* [102], BC Lara 59* [37])
(SM Pollock 2/40 [10], JH Kallis 1/37 [7])

Result: West Indies won by 7 wickets
Series: 2-1 (SA)
Man of the Match: S Chanderpaul (WI)

Posted by Liam