South Africa shrug off drug scandal to win sixth one-dayer by 53 runs

South Africa's cricketers put the controversy of the past 24 hours behind them with a courageous 53-run win in the sixth one-day international at the Queen's Park Oval, dismissing the home side for 137 after they themselves were bundled out for 190.

Fielding an 11 which included all five of the players implicated in the drug scandal which hit the team on Friday, South Africa dug as deep as they have had to all tour and simply ground the West Indies out of a game they must have thought was theirs.

It was a memorable day for debutant Andre Nel, the youngster picking up 3-20 and looking for all the world like he was born to the international stage. The only disappointment for Nel was that he was not on the field at the end of the game after pulling up lame in his ninth over.

The fall of the first wicket was a special moment for Nel, Ganga's edge to Justin Kemp at first slip providing the huge fast bowler with his first international scalp. Ganga made 11 as he and Shivnarine Chanderpaul struggled to score off Nel and Shaun Pollock's controlled line on or around off-stump.

Chanderpaul then played a supporting role as Brian Lara (43) began to take control. Lara looked in superb touch, driving Roger Telemachus through cover for four and the next over pulling Jacques Kallis to the midwicket fence for four more.

He struck two further boundaries in the first over from Kemp, but as he and Chanderpaul faltered over a single, Jonty Rhodes provided a masterclass in ground fielding, swooping from backward point and throwing down the stumps at the non-striker's end with Lara well short of his ground. It was probably the moment South Africa started to believe.

Chanderpaul's vigil was then ended by a brilliant piece of bowling from left-arm wrist spinner Paul Adams, the batsman misreading a googly as he came down the wicket to present Mark Boucher with a rare stumping. Chanderpaul gone for 27 from 84 balls.

Nel then produced a double blow. The first was a brilliant climbing leg-cutter which Carl Hooper (8) nicked to Boucher, the second a horrible long-hop at which Ricardo Powell (0) swung wildly to give Boucher another catch. The West Indies 108-5 and requiring over six an over.

When Marlon Samuels swung wildly at Roger Telemachus and was bowled for 29, South Africa knew they had the game won. Ridley Jacobs (7) had already swung Kallis high to Adams at deep square leg, and after Dinanath Ramnarine (1) edged Kemp to Boucher, Telemachus struck again, bowling Kerry Jeremy for a duck.

Pollock tore the ball from Telemachus as he went in search of the final wicket, which he duly claimed, Corey Collymore adjudged leg-before for one.

Earlier South Africa struggled their way to 190 all out as the West Indies bowlers backed their captain's decision to field first with a superb collective effort on a pitch that offered generous assistance throughout, paceman Cameron Cuffy playing a star role.

Opening the bowling, Cuffy worked through his ten overs in one spell, claiming the wickets of both openers and finishing with 2-26 as South Africa struggled to get out of the blocks in their customary explosive manner.

Neil McKenzie, back in the South African side for the first time since the first game of the series in Jamaica, top-scored with 73 from 117 balls and held the innings together after Cuffy bowled Herschelle Gibbs for one and trapped Boeta Dippenaar leg-before for seven. He was fifth out as he tried to accelerate, brilliantly caught by 'keeper Jacobs (who earlier dropped him on 23) off Colleymore. It was his second one-day half-century and he hit eight fours.

After the first two wickets fell with just 31 on the board, McKenzie shared a crucial stand of 92 for the third wicket with Kemp. The young all-rounder hit three fours and a six before he was harshly adjudged leg-before to Hooper for 46, television replays clearly indicating the batsman was struck outside the line of off-stump.

Jacques Kallis (3) was bowled by a Hooper delivery which turned sharply and kept low as it squeezed between bat and pad, McKenzie followed soon afterwards and then Pollock was smartly gathered by Samuels off his own bowling for five to leave South Africa 157-6.

Although Jonty Rhodes and Mark Boucher steadied things briefly with a stand of 23 for the seventh wicket, Boucher (3) was bowled by Jeremy, the ball takng the inside-edge before clipping leg stump. Telemachus (2) played on to Jeremy in similar fashion and Adams (6) was bowled having a wild old slog at Samuels.

Rhodes (25) was last out in the final over, carving Colleymore straight to Lara at backward point.