(CMC) BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, West Indies plunged out of the first ever CLOBI Cup International Masters Twenty20 cricket tournament Wednesday night when South Africa beat them by 10 runs at Kensington Oval.
Needing a win to stay alive in the series, West Indies could only muster 154 for five off their 20 overs in reply to the South Africans’ total of 164 for three off their 20 overs.
The result represented a rebound for the South Africans, who revived their hopes for a spot in the final after losing to Sri Lanka over the weekend.
West Indies were going down to their second consecutive loss and tumbled out of the race for the US$50,000 first prize.
Electing to bat, South Africa Masters lost openers Neil Johnson (11) and John Cummins (15) to pacer Curtly Ambrose and leg-spinner Rawl Lewis, respectively, and slipped to 35 for two in the eighth over.
But captain Dale Benkenstein and Dave Callaghan linked up with rapid half-centuries for a 109-run third-wicket stand that rallied the innings.
Benkenstein smashed 58 off 35 balls with three fours and three sixes and Callaghan thumped a top score of 69, off 44 balls, with six fours and two sixes.
Ambrose returned the best West Indies bowling figures of one for 18 off four overs, while spinners Lewis (1-27) and Carl Hooper (1-26) shared two wickets.
West Indies started their reply positively but their run-rate lagged after Gordon Greenidge (16) retired hurt and Stuart Williams (20) and Carl Hooper (1) departed.
The 58-year-old Collis King (37) and Jimmy Adams (42) led the scoring but the West Indies Masters, who beat Sri Lanka and then lost to England in their previous games, fell short in the end.
Fast bowler Fanie deVilliers produced a match-winning bowling effort of two for 17 off four overs, and supported by Alan Dawson (1-24), Lance Klusener (1-37) and Claude Henderson, whose four overs cost only 21 overs, the South Africans were able to restrict the Caribbean side below the target.
