West Indies v South Africa
Wisden's review of the first match, West Indies v South Africa
15-Apr-2017
At Providence, Guyana, June 3, 2016 (day/night). West Indies won by four wickets. West Indies 4pts. Toss: South Africa.
Narine decimated South Africa's batting on an extremely slow pitch: the normally free-scoring top-order could not manage a boundary in 137 balls during the middle overs. De Villiers fell to a return catch by Taylor, then Narine took control on his return to international cricket after a ban for an illegal action. With his variations apparently intact, he bewitched the South Africans, claiming six for 27 - the best one-day international figures by a West Indian slow bowler, beating his own five for 27 against New Zealand at Basseterre in 2012. The last seven wickets fell for just 28. Spin continued to cause problems, as West Indies slipped to 76 for four in the 26th over, before Pollard saved the day. As Darren Bravo knuckled down, crawling to 30 from 69 balls, Pollard clubbed three sixes down the ground from his first five deliveries. He finished with six in all - the only sixes of the game - and an unbeaten run-a-ball 67 as West Indies eased home.
Man of the Match: S. P. Narine.
Narine decimated South Africa's batting on an extremely slow pitch: the normally free-scoring top-order could not manage a boundary in 137 balls during the middle overs. De Villiers fell to a return catch by Taylor, then Narine took control on his return to international cricket after a ban for an illegal action. With his variations apparently intact, he bewitched the South Africans, claiming six for 27 - the best one-day international figures by a West Indian slow bowler, beating his own five for 27 against New Zealand at Basseterre in 2012. The last seven wickets fell for just 28. Spin continued to cause problems, as West Indies slipped to 76 for four in the 26th over, before Pollard saved the day. As Darren Bravo knuckled down, crawling to 30 from 69 balls, Pollard clubbed three sixes down the ground from his first five deliveries. He finished with six in all - the only sixes of the game - and an unbeaten run-a-ball 67 as West Indies eased home.
Man of the Match: S. P. Narine.