May 10, 2005	Tuesday	Rabi-us-Sani 1, 1426

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KINGSTON (Jamaica), May 9: Boeta Dippenaar struck an unbeaten 60 as South Africa eased to a comprehensive eight-wicket victory over West Indies in the rain-reduced second One-day International at Sabina Park on Sunday. Restricted to a meagre 152 for seven in their 50 overs, West Indies were unable to prevent the tourists from coasting to a revised target of 124 in just 26.4 overs and taking a 2-0 lead in the five-match series.

Rain halted play with South Africa precariously placed at 26 for two after eight overs, following the early loss of captain Graeme Smith, for six, and Jacques Kallis, for seven. However, Dippenaar then shared in an unbroken stand of 106 for the third wicket with Herschelle Gibbs (44 not out) to guide South Africa home with 38 balls to spare.

Dippenaar was named Man-of-the-Match for his 78-ball 60 while Gibbs smashed a four and two sixes to add a touch of gloss to the triumph.

South Africa won the series opener at the same venue on Saturday by eight wickets, chasing a victory target of 254. The home team, who lost the toss, slumped to 67 for six in the 29th over before wicket-keeper Courtney Browne gave the innings a measure of respectability with six fours in his 59-ball 40 not out.

West Indies began poorly with the dangerous Chris Gayle bowled for 11 by a perfect yorker from Makhaya Ntini and the out-of-form Wavell Hinds snapped up at slip by South Africa captain Smith off Shaun Pollock for just three. Brian Lara departed for a four-ball duck and Ramnaresh Sarwan was bowled on the back foot by Langeveldt for 19 as West Indies tottered at 40 for four.

Dwayne Bravo, promoted to number six, ground out 14 runs from 42 balls before a bizarre but brilliant stumping ended his resistance. The batsman’s back foot was six inches behind the popping crease when wicket keeper Mark Boucher removed the bails against medium pacer Justin Kemp but television replays showed clearly his foot was, fractionally, in the air.

Captain Shivnarine Chanderpaul eked out 36 from 95 balls in a bid to give the innings some solidity before he chopped a Langeveldt delivery on to his leg stump. Although Pollock, with two for 28, and Langeveldt, with two for 33, were the most successful bowlers, fellow paceman Andre Nel applied a stranglehold on the West Indies batsmen, conceding just eight runs in his first eight overs.

South Africa won the series opener by an identical margin on Saturday at the same venue, and now look forward to closing out the series with a victory in the third match at Bridgetown on Wednesday.

The series concludes with a double-header next Saturday and Sunday at Port of Spain.