Colombo: South Africa snatched a dramatic last-ball victory in a thrilling Group 'C' league match against West Indies in the ICC Champions Trophy tournament on Friday to virtually assure itself of a semi-final berth. The victory was made possible by a wide ball from Mervyn Dillon when South Africa needed three runs from the last ball of the match. After scampering for a bye off the wide ball, Alan Dawson hit a boundary off the next ball to take South Africa's score to 242 for eight in response to West Indies' 238 for eight.
West Indies had almost assured itself of a victory when South Africa needed 13 off the last over. But South African captain Shaun Pollock hit a six off the very first ball that brought his side back in contention. Pollock took a brace of the second ball and was dismissed on the next. Lance Klusener was out one ball later, but West Indians couldn't hold on to their nerves and allowed South Africa to reach the target. With Kenya being the third team in the group, West Indies' campaign in the tournament is all but over. In a see-saw game, South Africa, after being docked an over for slow bowing rate, slumped to 61 for three before recovering through a record 117-run fourth wicket stand between Boeta Dippenaar (53) and Jonty Rhodes (61). It improved upon the 112-run partnership between Gary Kirsten and Hansie Cronje at Lahore in 1997, that was the previous best for a South African fourth wicket pair against West Indies, and was cruising along nicely at 178 for three when West Indies captain Carl Hooper gave South Africa a double blow in the 40th over.
Dippenaar was caught by Mahendra Nagamootoo soon after reaching his half century with four fours and Rhodes played on to his stumps two balls later to leave his team 179 for five. Mark Boucher and Lance Klusener strung a useful 41-run partnership for the sixth wicket before Dillon sent both back. With South Africa needing 27 from the last three overs, Boucher hit Dillon for a six off the first ball of the 47th over. But he missed the very next ball and was clean bowled for 23. Pedro Collins slipped a very tidy 48th over to leave the South Africans a very daunting task of scoring 13 in the last over. But Pollock smashed a full toss into the long-on stands to revive his team's chances before the drama unfolded. Pollock took two runs on the next ball but holed out to Shivnaraine Chanderpaul while going for another big hit on the third ball of the over. Klusener took another two runs before giving a simple catch to Chanderpaul on the fifth ball. With victory looking almost certain for West Indies, Dillon messed up his good work by sending down a wide down the leg side.
Extras:
Windies scores fighting 238 vs South Africa
Jayasuriya slams ton, SL posts emphatic win
Tags: icc 2002, icc champions trophy, india, new zealand, premadasa, sri lanka, pakistan, australia, england, bangladesh, , zimbabwe, kenya, netherlands, west indies, south africa, semi final, finals, scorecards, statistics, ground.
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