27 January 2004	Tuesday	04 Zilhaj 1424

CAPE TOWN, Jan 26: Struggling West Indies plunged to yet another all time low in their cricket history when they were bowled out for 54 to lose the first one-dayer against South Africa by a record-breaking 209 runs (partly reported in Monday's edition).

Jacques Kallis scored a fine century to guide the hosts to an imposing 263 for four on an awkward pitch but there was little to indicate such a feeble collapse from the tourists.

It was the lowest score ever made by West Indies, their previous record standing at 87 against Australia in Sydney 11 years ago. It was also equalled the sixth lowest One-day International score in history.

The defeat also easily surpassed their previous heaviest runs reverse, a loss by 138 runs to Pakistan in Sharjah in the 1999-2000 season. To rub salt into deep wounds, it was also South Africa's largest runs victory, beating their previous best of 208 against Kenya in 2001-02 at Newlands.

Opener Chris Gayle (4) started the West Indian decline by holing out to mid-off in the fifth over before Brian Lara was given out lbw to Andre Nel by umpire Darrell Hair, although television replays seemed to show the ball pitching outside leg.

There was no doubt about the rest of the innings, however, which dissolved in 13 more overs. Shivnarine Chanderpaul top-scored with 14 before driving to mid-on and Ricardo Powell (12), the only other man to reach double figures, hit Lance Klusener for six before edging his next delivery to wicket-keeper Mark Boucher.

Klusener finished his highly publicised return to the national team, after suing the board for not renewing his contract, with bowling figures of 5.2-2-9-3.

Makhaya Ntini, who had Vasbert Drakes caught in barely credible style by Gibbs diving full length at backward point, finished with three for 15 in six overs.

Scoreboard

SOUTH AFRICA:

G.C. Smith b Hurley 53

H.H. Gibbs b Colleymore 10

R.J. Peterson run out 21

J.H. Kallis not out 109

H.H. Dippenaar c C'derpaul b Drakes 1

J.A. Rudolph not out 61

EXTRAS (LB-3, W-1, NB-4) 8

TOTAL (for four wkts, 50 overs) 263

FALL OF WKTS: 1-32, 2-64, 3-100, 4-101.

DID NOT BAT: M.V. Boucher, L. Klusener, S.M. Pollock, M. Ntini, A. Nel.

BOWLING: Dillon 8-2-40-0; Colleymore 10-1-47-1; Gayle 9-0-46-0 (2nb); Hurley 10-1-39-1; Drakes 10-1-64-1 (2nb); Powell 3-0-24-0 (1w).

WEST INDIES:

C.H. Gayle c Smith b Pollock 4

S. Chanderpaul c Rudolph b Nel 14

B.C. Lara lbw b Nel 2

R.R. Sarwan lbw b Ntini 5

R.L. Powell c Boucher b Klusener 12

D.R. Smith c Boucher b Klusener 1

R.D. Jacobs not out 6

R.O. Hurley c Kallis b Klusener 2

V.C. Drakes c Smith b Ntini 1

M. Dillon c Boucher b Ntini 1

C.D. Collymore run out 0

EXTRAS (LB-3, W-2, NB-1) 6

TOTAL (all out, 23.2 overs) 54

FALL OF WKTS: 1-10, 2-16, 3-21, 4-38, 5-40, 6-40, 7-43, 8-49, 9-53.

BOWLING: Pollock 6-2-9-1; Nel 6-1-18-2 (2w); Ntini 6-1-15-3; Klusener 5.2-2-9-3 (1nb).

RESULT: South Africa won by 209 runs.

UMPIRES: I.L. Howell (South Africa) and D.B. Hair (Australia).

TV UMPIRE: B.G. Jerling (South Africa).

MATCH REFEREE: R.S. Madugalle (Sri Lanka).

MAN-OF-THE-MATCH: Jacques Kallis.

NEXT MATCH: Port Elizabeth (d/n), Jan 28.-Reuters