Duminy steers South Africa to victory

Jean-Paul Duminy made a composed half-century to take South Africa to a six-wicket win in the first one-day international against the West Indies at Centurion Park Sunday.

The left-handed Duminy made a career-best unbeaten 79 as South Africa overhauled a West Indian total of 175 with two overs to spare in a match reduced by rain to 36 overs a side.

Duminy, 23, came in after South Africa lost their first two wickets for four runs.

He shared stands of 55 for the third wicket with Jacques Kallis, 59 for the fourth with Justin Ontong and an unbeaten 58 for the fifth wicket with Mark Boucher.

The Duminy-Ontong stand was crucial as the two inexperienced batsmen came together when rain was falling and South Africa were behind according to the Duckworth/Lewis method.

They first got South Africa ahead of the required rate, then set up a comfortable win as the weather improved, with the West Indians having increasing difficulty in controlling a wet ball.

West Indian captain Dwayne Bravo, who said before the match that he did not expect to bowl for another week because of a side strain, brought himself on.

After starting with a wide, he dismissed Ontong for 23 with a spectacular catch off his own bowling, racing down the pitch and diving full length after the ball looped up off the splice of the bat.

The West Indies were floundering at 81 for six after being sent in to bat in seam-friendly conditions.

They achieved a competitive total through a 69-run seventh wicket stand between Runako Morton (41) and Darren Sammy (51), the last recognised batsmen in their side.

Sammy reached a maiden international half-century with a flurry of hitting, which featured three sixes, two of which came off successive balls from Albie Morkel in the penultimate over.

Sammy was dropped at long-on by substitute fielder Johan Botha off Morkel when he was on 23 and should have been run out on 49 by a flick onto the stumps by Boucher when he was casual about making his ground.

Umpire Rudi Koerten did not call for a decision by the television umpire but a replay showed his foot was in the air.

South African captain Graeme Smith had no hesitation in sending the West Indies in when it was decided that play would start three-and-a-quarter hours late.

The bowlers dominated on a lively pitch until Morton and Sammy effected their team's revival.

Fast bowler Dale Steyn took two for 24 and Andre Nel two for 36.

Shaun Pollock, playing in his final series after announcing his retirement from international cricket, took one for 19 with an immaculate spell with the new ball and contributed to two run-outs with accurate throws from the deep.

Full scoreboard in the first one-day international between South Africa and the West Indies at Centurion Park Sunday.

West Indies

Fall of wickets: 1-26 (Smith), 2-35 (Parchment), 3-61 (Samuels), 4-68 (Chanderpaul), 5-72 (Bravo), 6-81 (Ramdin), 7-150 (Morton), 8-174 (Rampaul), 9-175 (Sammy)

South Africa

Fall of wickets: 1-2 (Smith), 2-4 (De Villiers), 3-59 (Kallis), 4-118 (Ontong)

Did not bat: S Pollock, A Morkel, A Nel, D Steyn, C Langeveldt

Result: South Africa won by six wickets.

Umpires: D Harper (AUS) and R Koertzen (RSA).

TV umpire: B Jerling (RSA).

Match referee: J Srinath (IND)

Remaining matches:

Jan 25: Cape Town (day-night)

Jan 27: Port Elizabeth (day)

Feb 1: Durban (day-night)

Feb 3: Johannesburg (day)