SA make clean sweep of ODI series

Port of Spain, Trinidad:

Opener Boeta Dippenaar stroked an unbeaten 61 as South Africa secured an historic 5-0 sweep of the West Indies with a seven-wicket win in the rain-shortened fifth and final one-day cricket international. Dippenaar hit five fours and a six off 47 balls to pace the visitors to 141 for three and victory with five balls to spare at Queen's Park Oval in Trinidad yesterday. The West Indies, sent in, were restricted to 138 for seven after play finally got under way after morning rain reduced the match to 20-overs-per-side. Dwayne Bravo's career-best, undefeated 41 led the home team. Andre Nel took two for 21 off four overs while Andrew Hall claimed two for 32. It was the first time that the West Indies have failed to win a match in a one-day series at home. Proteas take control South Africa was always in control as they chased. A B de Villiers started the surge by hitting three fours and a six in 30 off 25 balls. He and Dippenaar added 46 off the first six overs to set the winning platform. Ian Bradshaw removed de Villiers to a catch at third man, but the middle order rallied around Dippenaar, who increased the rate. Jacques Kallis (18) and Justin Kemp (8) fell in the middle overs as Dwayne Bravo and Corey Collymore struck. But Dippenaar reached his half century with a six over long-off from his 41st delivery and Mark Boucher sealed the result by hitting a full toss from Fidel Edwards over midwicket from the first ball of the final over. Earlier, Chris Gayle started West Indies quickly with a volley of boundaries, but once Nel made the initial breakthrough by removing the rampant left-hander, the West Indies innings faded. Gayle hit 28 off 20 balls with five fours and a six over long-off before he skied a catch to third man off the outside edge. Ramnaresh Sarwan, promoted to open the batting, fell five runs later as he spooned to backward point off Andrew Hall. Quick dismissals The quick dismissals of their two most experienced batsmen, captain Shivnarine Chanderpaul and Brian Lara, gave further set back to the West Indies. Chanderpaul tried to scamper a single to Shaun Pollock at mid-off but was run out by a direct hit. Lara, greeted by huge cheers from a sellout crowd of 25,000, scored just 12 before he miscued a full toss from Justin Ontong's off-spin to short third man. Bravo propped up the lower order with a run-a-ball 41 that included three fours. Courtney Browne slapped two fours and a six in 16 off eight balls to boost the total toward the end. (AP)