One-day International, Port Elizabeth: South Africa 256-3 (48.4 overs) beat West Indies 252-7 (50 overs) by seven wickets
 Kallis dispatches a short ball from Daren Powell in Port Elizabeth |
Jacques Kallis scored his 16th one-day century as South Africa beat West Indies by seven wickets to seal the home series with two matches to spare.
Kallis made 121 not out off 133 balls to guide the hosts to their target.
He was well supported by Graeme Smith (56), who helped add 82 for the second wicket, and JP Duminy (36 not out).
West Indies posted a total of 252-7, thanks mainly to 98 off 88 balls from Marlon Samuels, but it was not enough as South Africa took a 3-0 series lead.
The injury-hit tourists went into the game in Port Elizabeth without their most experienced batsman, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, who missed out because of a bruised knee.
 | 606: DEBATE |
Debutant Patrick Browne took Chanderpaul's place and the Barbadian acquitted himself well as he helped Sewnarine Chattergoon add 75 for the second wicket following the early loss of Brenton Parchment, who was caught off Shaun Pollock.
Having chosen to bat first on a good pitch, they needed a score approaching 300 if possible, but were held in check by a miserly spell of 1-28 from 10 overs by Pollock, who was making his final international appearance at his home ground.
Chattergoon (52 off 81 balls) lofted Charl Langeveldt for six over square leg and Browne (35) cleared the rope with a pull shot off the same bowler.
But the introduction of spinner Johan Botha led to their downfall, with Chattergoon playing on as he attempted to cut a ball which was too close to him and Browne trapped lbw on the back foot.
Runako Morton and skipper Dwayne Bravo contributed little and at 174-5 in the 43rd over, West Indies were struggling to give their bowlers anything worthwhile to defend.
 Pollock showed why he is one of South Africa's greatest ever bowlers |
Samuels, however, raised the tempo dramatically in the closing overs, having been dropped on 19 by keeper Mark Boucher off Pollock.
He collected four sixes and seven fours before he was caught in the deep off Morne Morkel as he looked for the boundary to carry him to three figures off the final ball of the innings.
South Africa began their reply brightly, only to lose Herschelle Gibbs for 15 in the eighth over when he was caught off Daren Powell.
Kallis and Smith were soon in cruise control, however, and when Smith was taken by Darren Sammy at short mid-wicket off Samuels with the total on 122, it was only a hiccup in the home side's progress towards their target.
AB de Villiers fell to paceman Fidel Edwards for 18, caught at mid-on, but Kallis slashed the same bowler over wide third man for six and then reached his century with a thin edge for four off Sammy.
It was carnival atmosphere for the remainder of the game, with the crowd chanting the name of Pollock, who will retire from international cricket at the end of the series.
Kallis, however, had the final word as he ended proceedings with eight balls remaining as he pulled Jerome Taylor away to the mid-wicket boundary.
Man of the Match Jacques Kallis: "I think I scored my first provincial hundred here for Western Province against Eastern Province, but other than that it's been dry for me here.
"It's good to get that off my shoulder. But sometimes you play knocks of 40 and 50 that are more important than hundreds."
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