Lara leads West Indians to victory in pipe-opener

West Indians 241 for 4 (Ganga 70, Chanderpaul 53) beat Nicky Oppenheimer's XI 229 for 5 (van Jaarsveld 49*) by 12 runs
Scorecard

The West Indian tourists kicked off the South African leg of their tour with a 12-run victory in a 45-over game against Nicky Oppenheimer's XI, in the traditional curtain-raiser at the lovely Randjesfontein ground.

Oppenheimer's XI looked out of it when the in-form Zander de Bruyn was caught and bowled by Chris Gayle for 31 in the 39th over, which left them 164 for 5 and needing another 78 to win from 6.5 overs, but a forthright stand between the unheralded pair of Vaughan van Jaarsveld, whose muscular unbeaten 49 from 46 balls contained four sixes but no fours, and Albie Morkel, who scurried to 22 not out from 20 balls, took their side close to an upset.

Earlier the West Indians had enjoyed themselves in amassing a handy total of 241 for 4 in their 45 overs. Daren Ganga acclimatised with 70 from 103 balls, with ten fours and a six, and put on 87 for the first wicket with Shivnarine Chanderpaul, who made 53. At the end in came Brian Lara to thump 53 from only 28 balls - he clouted four fours and three sixes - which turned out to be a vital contribution in the end.