South Africa take 2-1 series lead

Jacques Kallis hit a dominant 107 to set South Africa up for a comfortable 132-run victory over West Indies in the third one-day international at Queen's Park on Saturday.

The win gave South Africa a 2-1 lead in the seven-match series with the next game taking place at the same venue on Sunday.

After being put into bat, South Africa made a challenging 287 for four in their 50 overs and then bowled out the home side for just 155 in 39 overs. Captain Shaun Pollock finished with figures of 3-23.

Kallis got to his 50 from 66 balls with just three boundaries on the huge Queen's Park ground but then accelerated towards the end of his innings.

The all-rounder reached his seventh one-day century from 105 deliveries, including four fours and two sixes.

He enjoyed one moment of good fortune on 85 when fast bowler Mervyn Dillon held a brilliant catch on the deep midwicket boundary before tossing the ball backwards to Cameron Cuffy at long on as he tumbled over the ropes.

The television umpire ruled that Dillon had touched the boundary rope before releasing the ball and the catch was turned into a six.

Kallis came to the crease in the 15th over after openers Gary Kirsten (50) and Herschelle Gibbs (46) made a storming start with 88 runs at six per over.

Gibbs straight drove Cuffy and Dillon for a pair of sixes and hit four more boundaries before he pulled across the line at left-arm spinner Neil McGarrell. Ricardo Powell took a fine catch at mid-wicket.

FIRST TIME
The left-handed Kirsten passed 50 for the first time since his century in the first test in Guyana but was run out immediately afterwards.

He hit the ball in the direction of Chris Gayle at point and set off for a single but was caught well short of his ground at the non-striker's end by a direct hit. Kirsten's 50 came off 65 balls and included seven fours.

Jonty Rhodes weighed in with 47 in 51 balls before he was bowled off his pads by the off-spin of Carl Hooper attempting to sweep and all-rounder Lance Klusener finished on 25 not out.

Kallis reached three figures with a six off part-time spinner Marlon Samuels before he fell to a return catch off the occasional bowling of Gayle in the final over.

In reply, West Indies lost wickets at regular intervals and never threatened their victory target.

Pollock claimed three wickets in his first six overs as the home side slipped to 48 for three, openers Chris Gayle (one) and Ricardo Powell (15) both holing out to mid on before Shivnarine Chanderpaul (16) top-edged a hook to fine leg.

Brian Lara (31) and Carl Hooper (29) both played briefly entertaining innings but when Lara was bowled by Makhaya Ntini and Hooper followed, run out by a fine piece of fielding by Ntini, South Africa were well on top.

Marlon Samuels (20) was out lbw to Klusener, Ridley Jacobs (10) run out by a brilliant piece of fielding by Gibbs and Wavell Hinds (11) provided Justin Ontong with his first international wicket, pulling the right-arm spinner to Ntini at long-on.

From 119 for five, there was no way back for the home side and the innings soon folded with spinner Ontong ending up with figures of 2-12 in his third one-day international.

Mail Cricket Editor