Gibbs' 107 helps South Africa clinch series

Herschelle Gibbs hit a swashbuckling 107 as South Africa crushed West Indies by seven wickets to clinch the one-day series on Wednesday.

The South Africans cruised to an overwhelming victory in the fifth one day international with 8.5 overs to spare to take an unassailable 4-1 lead in the seven-match series.

Chasing another modest target of just 200 runs, the tourists were guided towards victory by opener Gibbs, who scored 107 from 132 balls with 11 fours and three sixes, his second century in three matches.

The victory followed equally crushing wins by eight wickets (twice) and 132 runs in the preceding games in Antigua and Grenada after the home side won a dramatic last-ball finish in the first match in Jamaica.

Boeta Dippenaar (42 not out) applied the finishing touches once Gibbs drove leg-spinner Dinanath Ramnarine to Carl Hooper at cover.

But the brilliance of Gibbs' batting was almost overshadowed by the all round weakness of the West Indian effort which left a capacity crowd of 12,000 speechless with disappointment.

Gibbs was in startling form, his rare talent best exhibited with an effortless 'inside-out' six over extra cover against Ramnarine that took his score from 93 to 99 and left the fielders motionless with shock.

IN-FORM LARA
Brian Lara discovered his best form after Shaun Pollock had won the toss and put the home side in on a good batting wicket and a fast outfield.

But not one of Lara's team mates was able to stay long enough to form a meaningful partnership.

Eventually the exasperated left hander was last man out slogging across the line against Jacques Kallis in the final over of the West Indian innings.

He hit nine boundaries and faced 132 balls in his 92 out of a poor total of 199 all out.

Pollock's decision to bowl immediately looked correct when the West Indies lost both openers in the first 10 overs and then slipped to 73 for four at the halfway point of the innings.

A determined Lara batted at number three and showed understandable caution as wickets continued to tumble, reaching his half century from 83 balls with five boundaries.

But his attempts to accelerate were undermined as he was joined by the tailenders for the final seven overs.

Kallis removed both openers, Chris Gayle (6) and Daren Ganga (15) cheaply.

Hooper threatened a substantial partnership with Lara until an unplayable yorker from Makhaya Ntini ripped the captain's off stump out of the ground after an innings of 21 and a third wicket stand of 44.

Marlon Samuels (1) edged Allan Donald to wicketkeeper Mark Boucher while Shivnarine Chanderpaul (24) fell victim to South Africa's awesome in-fielding when Gibbs ran him out with a direct hit from extra cover.

BRILLIANT FIELDING
Lara almost succeeded for a third time in building a decent partnership, this time with Ridley Jacobs for the sixth wicket, but the muscular wicketkeeper perished to an astonishing catch by Gibbs at extra cover.

Gibbs dived to his right to clutch the ball in his right hand just an inch from the ground and send Jacobs back to the pavilion for 21 from just 27 balls that included a mighty six over midwicket against Ntini.

Donald quickly dismissed tailenders Mervyn Dillon (0) and Dinanath Ramnarine (2) to finish with three for 41 while Kallis added Kerry Jeremy (5) and Lara to his early brace to claim four wickets for 22.

The series concludes with the final two matches in Trinidad on Saturday and St Vincent next Wednesday.

The Complete Scorecard

Mail Cricket Editor