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Proteas start series strongly

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South Africa began their preparations for the World Cup with a 61-run Duckworth/Lewis method victory in the first of five one-day internationals against West Indies.

Hashim Amla, who became the fastest batsman to reach 5,000 format runs, AB de Villiers and David Miller all made half-centuries as the Proteas amassed 279 for eight before rain brought their innings to a premature end after 48.2 overs.

In pursuit of a revised target of 226 from 32, the Windies were dismissed for 164 with Vernon Philander, Dale Steyn and Imran Tahir taking three wickets each.

South Africa, back to full strength following the in-experienced side they fielded for the Twenty20s, were up against it when Jerome Taylor dismissed Rilee Rossouw and Francois du Plessis for ducks, the former’s fifth in 10 ODIs.

But Amla and de Villiers, like they usually do, came to the rescue for their side with a stand of 99 in 15 overs.

Although Amla was run out by Andre Russell for a run-a-ball 66, including 10 fours, de Villiers joined forces with the aggressive Miller in another important alliance.

The pair both passed 50 in a 123-run stand which ended when Miller, on 70, hit his 68th delivery to deep point off new skipper Jason Holder, who brought himself back into the attack.

Ab de Villiers goes on the attack during his innings of 81 in South Africa's victory over West Indies at Kingsmead

That started a spell of five wickets falling for just 34 runs, including de Villiers in the next over, the 41st, after he hit Sulieman Benn to long-on to depart for 81.

Russell then ran out Farhaan Behardien, had JP Duminy caught behind and Philander taken at deep-cover.

Rain prevented South Africa from completing their final 10 deliveries and, after a delay of two hours and 45 minutes, Chris Gayle briefly lit up Kingsmead with five fours and two sixes in a 24-ball 41.

However, the Windies failed to recover from his exit, caught behind off Steyn in the sixth over, with only Denesh Ramdin offering any other resistance with 31.

Philander and Tahir won leg-before appeals against Leon Johnson and Dwayne Smith, either side of Marlon Samuels running himself out.

Wicketkeeper de Villiers took catches behind the wicket to hand seamer Philander the scalps of Darren Sammy and Russell after stumping Jonathan Carter off Tahir.

Tahir then bowled a slog-sweeping Ramdin before Steyn wrapped up the innings by having Holder and Taylor caught off consecutive balls in the 29th over. 


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