POTCHEFSTROOM, South Africa, CMC – Inexperienced West Indies received a fiery baptism yesterday as South Africa crushed them by 188-runs in their first official ICC Champions Trophy warm-up match at Senwes Park.
Winning the toss and batting, the Proteas piled up an intimidating 388 for four off their allotted 50 overs before returning to undermine the under-strength Windies for 200 off 41.1 overs.
Jacques Kallis (86), Graeme Smith (83), JP Duminy (80 not out) and Mark Boucher (55) all pummeled half-centuries as West Indies bowlers came under fire from early.
None were spared but medium pacer David Bernard Jr grabbed two for 71 from his 10 overs while fast bowler Tino Best snared two for 88 from his allotment, to emerge from the carnage as the best bowlers for the tourists.
West Indies were given a flying start of 80 off 77 balls by Dale Richards (41) and Andre Fletcher (35) but they lost five wickets for 25 runs in the space of 46 balls, to slip to 105 for five and send the innings into terminal decline.
Only Darren Sammy with a fine 52 from 61 balls showed any fight down the order as left-arm spinner Roelof van der Merwe undermined the innings with four for 34.
Already facing a daunting task in the tournament with a weakened team devoid of its elite players, it was hardly the type of start West Indies would have wanted.
But up against one of the major tournament favourites, there was little the makeshift side could do as South Africa romped to an emphatic victory.
Richards slammed seven fours in a knock that lasted 42 balls while Fletcher stroked six fours off 40 balls, to briefly raise the Windies’ hopes of an upset.
The duo showed little respect for the opening pair of Dale Steyn and Wayne Parnell and had gathered 25 overs from the first three overs sent down.
Fletcher took successive boundaries off the last balls of the second over from Parnell while Richards dished out similar treatment to Steyn in the next over.
Fast bowler Albie Morkel eventually got the breakthrough when he bowled Fletcher in the 13th over, to spark a Windies collapse.
With just five runs added from 16 balls, Richards was bowled by Kallis in the 16th over and the left-handed Devon Smith then dithered for 27 balls over 17 runs before being trapped lbw by van der Merwe.
Four balls later at 105, van der Merwe bowled Travis Dowlin for five and with no run added, captain Floyd Reifer departed for one, lbw to off-spinner Johan Botha.
South Africa were then frustrated by two partnerships as Sammy, who struck six fours and two sixes, shared 35 for the sixth wicket with Bernard (11), and a further 47 for the seventh wicket with Royston Crandon (13).
When Sammy was bowled by van der Merwe at 187 for seven in the 38th, the resistance ended meekly.
Earlier, Herschelle Gibbs and Smith added 79 before Gibbs retired hurt after striking six fours and one six in 38 off 40 balls.
Smith and Kallis completed the first wicket stand by adding a further 115 runs, as the hapless Windies bowlers were put to the sword.
The left-handed Smith slammed 11 fours and a six off 74 balls while Kallis was more cautious with seven fours and two sixes off 90 balls.
It was Duminy and Gibbs, however, who raised the temperature with an exhilarating fourth-wicket stand of 116 off 55 balls.
Duminy’s 80 required just 49 balls and included four fours and five sixes while Boucher’s knock came from 27 balls and was decorated with nine fours and one six.
West Indies will play their second match tomorrow against Sri Lanka.