February 10, 2003	Monday	Zul Hijjah 8,1423

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CAPE TOWN, Feb 9: Brian Lara inspired West Indies to an upset three-run victory over hosts South Africa after an extraordinary finish to the opening match of the 2003 World Cup on Sunday.

Lara, named Man-of-the-Match, struck a masterful 116 after being dropped first ball to help West Indies rack up 278 for five from their 50 overs in the Group ‘B’ match. The South Africans finished on 275 for nine despite a defiant 57 from 48 balls by Lance Klusener which gave them hope of an unlikely win after they had slumped to 204 for seven.

A West Indies victory looked a remote possibility when, after winning the toss, they slumped to seven for two and had to wait until the 13th over to hit their first boundary.

But Lara, spilled by Jacques Kallis one-handed at second slip, received good support from Shivnarine Chanderpaul and captain Carl Hooper on the way to his 16th One-day International century, which included two sixes and 10 fours.

Scoreboard

West Indies

C.Gayle 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 (lb-6 nb-4 w-4) 14

Total (for five wickets, 50 overs) 278

Fall of wickets: 1-4 2-7 3-109 4-198 5-215

Did not bat: R.Jacobs, V.Drakes, M.Dillon, P.Collins

Bowling: Pollock 10-2-52-2 (nb-1), Ntini 10-1-37-2 (w-2), Donald 9-54-0 (nb-1, w-1), Kallis 10-2-53-0, Klusener 8-0-53-1 (nb-2), Boje 3-0-24-0 (w-1)

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 (lb-4 nb-3 w-5) 12 Total (for nine wickets, 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 (w-1), Collins 9-0-54-1 (nb-1, w-1), Drakes 8-1-33-2 (nb-1), Hooper 10-0-63-2 (nb-1), Gayle 10-1-60-2 (w-2), Powell 2-0-14-0 (w-1)

Result: West Indies win by 3 runs.—Reuters