Calypso drowns out African beat

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Pollock celebrates the fall of Hinds. (Reuters)

As has been the tradition, the World Cup has started with an upset. After the breathtaking opening ceremony, Newlands saw a thrilling contest as West Indies defeated South Africa by three runs despite a heroic effort by Lance Kluesner. The Zulu warrior’s 57 runs off 48 balls was not enough in the end as the hosts, chasing 279 for victory, failed to make nine runs from the last over.

If it was Brian Lara’s masterful century that helped West Indies recover from a shaky start to post an imposing total of 278/5, it was skipper Carl Hopper’s brilliant work on the field which gave West Indies the victory. Hooper took two wickets and two vital catches – one in the last over to dismiss the dangerous Kluesner – proving once again that the South Africans choke under pressure.

Earlier it was vintage display from Lara who left the field to a standing ovation after top-edging a pull at Makhaya Ntini as the overs ran out. His 116 off 134 balls included 12 fours and two sixes.

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Lara’s heroics came after West Indies stumbled to seven for two, both wickets falling to South Africa captain Shaun Pollock. Wavell Hinds got the faintest of edges through to Mark Boucher to depart for a 16-ball duck and Chris Gayle (two off 21 balls) edged on to his stumps as he attempted to break the shackles with a loose attacking stroke.

SCOREBOARD

WEST INDIES
CGayle b Pollock 2; W.Hinds c Boucher b Pollock 0; B.Lara c Pollock b Ntini 116; S.Chanderpaul c Boucher b Klusener 34; C.Hooper c Kallis b Ntini 40; R.Powell not out 40; R.Sarwan not out 32; Extras (lb6, nb4, w4): 14; Total (for 5 wkts, 50 overs): 278
Fall of wickets: 1-4, 2-7, 3-109, 4-198, 5-215
Bowling: Pollock 10-2-52-2, Ntini 10-1-37-2, Donald 9-54-0, Kallis 10-2-53-0, Klusener 8-0-53-1, Boje 3-0-24-0

SOUTH AFRICA
H.Gibbs c Jacobs b Dillon 24; G.Kirsten c & b Dillon 69; B.Dippenaar st Jacobs b Hooper 20; J.Kallis c Jacobs b Collins 13; J.Rhodes b Hooper 2; M.Boucher b Gayle 49; S.Pollock c Hooper b Gayle 4; L.Klusener c Hooper b Drakes 57; N.Boje not out 25; M.Ntini c Sarwan b Drakes 0; A.Donald not out 0; Extras (lb4, nb3, w5): 12; Total (for 9 wkts, 49 overs): 275
Fall of wickets: 1-46, 2-79, 3-104, 4-117, 5-155, 6-160, 7-204, 8-271, 9-271
Bowling: Dillon 10-0-47-2, Collins 9-0-54-1, Drakes 8-1-33-2, Hooper 10-0-63-2, Gayle 10-1-60-2, Powell 2-0-14-0
Result: West Indies win by 3 runs

It could have been even worse for West Indies. In his only piece of good fortune, Lara was dropped first ball, Jacques Kallis diving full length at second slip but failing to hold a difficult chance off Ntini.

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South Africa’s control in the early stages was such that the capacity crowd had to wait until the 13th over for the first boundary of the innings, Shivnarine Chanderpaul straight driving an over-pitched Allan Donald delivery to the ropes. It signalled the start of a West Indies recovery as Lara and Chanderpaul added 102 runs for the third wicket, Chanderpaul (34) mainly content to rotate the strike and allow Lara to do the bulk of the scoring.

After a slow start Lara was in sublime touch, lifting Donald for six over mid off and four times crashing Nicky Boje to the fence. Lara continued to attack after Chanderpaul’s departure, flicking Klusener effortlessly over square leg for his second six before Carl Hooper (40) tried the same shot to Ntini and was well caught by Kallis running in from the boundary.(Reuters)

TOTAL RECALL
DAY 1 MATCH 1

BOY DONE GOOD: Brian Lara came to the World Cup after injury, wearing the No.9 shirt. Anyone remember Ronaldo, Japan, 2002?

GREASED LIGHTNING: He was once called a flash in the pan. Today, Ricardo Powell’s 40 off 18 balls was more like the real thing

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WET BLANKET: South Africa’s bolwing attack, hammered all over the park by the West Indian middle order in full flow

SHOT OF THE DAY: In a gem-studded innings, Lara’s straight drive off Ntini was the pick. Overpitched ball was met by big blacklift and hit the ropes without leaving the carpet

NIGHTMARE MOMENT: Shaun Pollock’s over conceding 23 runs to Sarwan and Powell

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