South Africa Through After Thriller Tie

Cardiff: West Indies were at par with the score and would have won the match had it not been for Kieron Pollard who got out just before the rain stopped the play at Cardiff on Friday.

Till Pollard's wicket, West Indies were ahead of the score required by the D/L method. But with Pollard gone, the scores were tied and it came down to the net run rate.

Thanks to their better run rate, South Africa cruised through and West Indies were left regretting their bad luck.

Pollard (28) played a reckless shot and threw his wicket away to Ryan McLaren when West Indies needed just 41 run from 30 balls.

South Africa's premier fast bowler Dale Steyn provided an important breakthrough to his team when he bowled out Marlon Samuels to put a dent to the Windies runchase of 231 runs.

Samuels (48) along with Kieron Pollard had kept the pursuit alive after West Indies lost wickets of Chris Gayle, Devon Smith and Darren Bravo in quick succession.

West Indies lost Chris Gayle and Devon Smith in quick succession to be reduced to 87/3 in their chase of 231 before returned to stop the play. However, the game resumed in few minutes.

Chris Morris struck to get rid of Chris Gayle after his 27-ball-35, giving West Indies second blow. Gayle edged Morris's short of length delivery to Faf du Plessis, leaving West Indies at 75/2 in 12 overs.

On the final delivery of the 15th over, Peterson trapped Smith (30). The appeal, turned down initially, was referred to the third umpire who gave the verdict in Proteas' favour.

After South Africa posted 230/6, West Indies lost opener Johnson Charles at the score of 35 in the seventh over.

Charles top edged Steyn only to be caught by keeper AB de Villiers after his knock of 16.

Earlier, opener Colin Ingram struck a fluent half-century while David Miller played a cameo of 38 as South Africa posted a formidable total.

South Africa's fifth-wicket pair of Miller and Faf du Plessis (32-ball 35) put on display some sensational strokeplay at the business end of the innings and added 68 runs in just 48 deliveries to put their side in the driver's seat.

From 153 for four in the 23rd over, both took their side to 221 for five as the last five overs yielded 52 runs for the Proteas.

Miller's unbeaten knock of 38 was laced with three huge sixes and a four while Plessis decorated his useful innings with three fours and a six.

Earlier, Ingram hit 63-ball 73 laced with six fours and two sixes while skipper AB de Villiers hit a 25-ball 37 after South Africa were invited to bat first under overcast conditions at Sophia Gardens.

The match started three hours and 15 minutes late than the scheduled toss due to inclement weather, reducing it to a 31-over-a-side encounter. The match was reduced by 19 overs each way, with the Powerplay adjusted to nine overs a side, with six mandatory overs upfront, and three for the batting Powerplay.

Teams

South Africa: Hashim Amla, Colin Ingram, Faf du Plessis, AB de Villiers (Capt. & wk), Jean-Paul Duminy, David Miller, Robin Peterson, Ryan McLaren, Chris Morris, Dale Steyn, Lonwabo Tsotsobe

West Indies: Chris Gayle, Johnson Charles (wk), Darren Bravo, Marlon Samuels, Devon Smith, Dwayne Bravo (Capt.), Kieron Pollard, Darren Sammy, Sunil Narine, Tino Best, Ravi Rampaul

Brief scores
South Africa 230/6 (Ingram 73, DJ Bravo 2-43)
West Indies 190/6 (Samuels 48, Steyn 2-33)
Result Match tied (D/L method)
Points South Africa 1, West Indies 1
MOM Colin Ingram (South Africa)