South Africa v West Indies

At Cape Town, January 25, 2004 (day/night). South Africa won by 209 runs. Toss: South Africa. One-day international debut: D. R. Smith.

"This is as low as it can get," Lara commented at the presentation ceremony. West Indies' 54 all out was indeed their worst total, and the margin of 209 runs their heaviest defeat, in their 482 one-day internationals, though Lara's team was to reach an even lower ebb in a Test against England less than two months later. Batting under lights at Newlands is usually a disadvantage, but it seemed as if the West Indian batsmen had never before seen a white ball swing and seam. As in the Test a week earlier, Lara was lbw padding up to Nel, and the last seven fell for 16 runs in 9.5 overs. An unbroken stand of 162 in 24 overs between Kallis - who hit his fifth hundred in successive international matches in 94 balls, including five sixes - and Rudolph was responsible for South Africa's healthy total. They could not have expected it would produce their biggest oneday win.

Man of the Match: J. H. Kallis. Attendance: 18,218.