[1]A career-best spell from Ryan McLaren bowled South Africa to a 13-run victory in the first of two Twenty20 Internationals against the West Indies on Wednesday. McLaren captured 5/19 from 3.5 overs to earn the man of the match award, as West Indies, chasing 137 for victory from their 20 overs, were dismissed for 123 with one ball to spare at the Vivian Richards Cricket Ground.
The 27-year-old McLaren finished with the second-best figures in a Twenty20 international behind Pakistan’s Umar Gul, who collected 5/6 from three overs against New Zealand at The Oval in London in last year’s World Twenty20.
Both the West Indies and South Africa came into Wednesday’s match having failed to make it through to the knockout stages of this year’s T20 Worlds, which England won in Barbados on Sunday. “It’s a good way to start off the tour having practised indoors and not outdoors for the last few weeks,” said McLaren.
Earlier veteran South African batsman Jacques Kallis had struck one four and three sixes in 53 from 45 balls, as South Africa laboured to 136/7 from their 20 overs, after deciding to bat on an uneven pitch.
He added 73 for the second wicket with Smith, whose 37 from 31 balls included three fours and one six. Once they were separated, South Africa’s batting collapsed, and they lost their last five wickets for 16 runs from 26 balls.
— AFP
Scores: South Africa 136/7 in 20 overs (Kallis 53, Smith 37; Pollard 2/22) bt West Indies 123 in 19.5 overs (Pollard 27; McLaren 5/19, Botha 2/19)
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[1] http://103.241.136.51/sp05212jpg-261