Eight wicket win gives South Africa 3-1 lead in one-day series

South Africa drew maximum reward from a hard weekend of cricket as they beat the West Indies by eight wickets in the fourth one-day international at Queen's Park stadium on Sunday and took a healthy 3-1 lead in the seven-match series.

It is perhaps the emphatic manner of South Africa's two wins in Grenada which will haunt the West Indies most - after taking a 1-0 lead in the series in Jamaica, they again appear punch-drunk and demoralised.

As defeat loomed, one fan with a loud-hailer broke into song. "Oh dear, what can the matter be?" he lamented over and over again. "There's something wrong with my cricket team."

The mood was not enhanced by the extraordinary events before a ball was bowled, captain Carl Hooper arriving an astonishing 17 minutes late for the toss and then appearing to forget the names of the players coming into his side for Sunday's game when interviewed for television.

As it was, South Africa chased a modest victory target of 201 with little trouble, the winning run hit coming with three overs and five balls to spare.

Gary Kirsten struck his second consecutive half-century after a lean spell, and just to underline the strength in depth of the tourists' squad, Boeta Dippenaar contributed an unbeaten 62 in his first innings in full colours after over two months on tour.

Kirsten fell to Hooper for 72 off 104 balls, a moment's indecision producing a checked drive and a scoop to Ricardo Powell at mid-off. With South Africa's specialist finisher Jonty Rhodes (30 not out) coming to the wicket, the game was as good as over.

Earlier, the West Indies batting effort was undermined by a poor start, an inability to accelerate in the middle overs and a tail lengthened by the exclusion of Wavell Hinds, replaced by Nixon McLean.

Although 20-year-old Marlon Samuels (65 0ff 71 balls) again looked a class act with his fourth one-day half-century, only while he and Hooper (46 off 78) shared a partnership of 67 for the fifth wicket did the South African bowlers come under sustained pressure.

Brian Lara provided another fleeting reminder of his class with 25 high quality runs, including consecutive fours off the first three deliveries bowled by Allan Donald. Typically, though, Donald found his rhythm and got his man, Lara charging down the track and checking an attacking stroke, only to edge to Mark Boucher.

Donald went on to finish with 4-38 from his ten overs and while Justin Kemp took three wickets, the most impressive bowling came from the niggardly Pollock (1-16 from ten) and Makhaya Ntini (2-26 from ten).

Pollock accounted for Samuels, trapping the youngster leg-before with a low full toss, by which time it was clear the West Indies would have to produce their best bowling and fielding performance of the summer if they were to defend their modest total. On a beautiful batting track, it was a poor effort.