Brilliant Lara does the business

Cricket

West Indies 264-8 South Africa 245 (West Indies win by 19 runs)

A superb century by Brian Lara gave the revitalised West Indies a chance of victory which the part-time spin of Jimmy Adams eventually secured in the third World Cup quarter-final at the National Stadium in Karachi yesterday.

A semi-final against Australia had looked far from probable just 12 days earlier, when the West Indies slumped to defeat against Kenya, prompting their captain, Richie Richardson, to announce his retirement from international cricket.

Lara struck 111 off 94 balls, putting on 138 with Shivnarine Chanderpaul for the second wicket against a South African attack lacking Allan Donald, who was not selected.

Both captains paid tribute to Lara. "He badly wanted to do well today after all the pressure he's been under and I felt very tense for him," Richardson said. "But when he hit his first four, I knew he was definitely going to score his 100."

Richardson's counterpart, Hansie Cronje, said that Lara had made the difference: "We gave him too much width with our bowling," he added.

Lara's innings looked as though it might count for nothing, first because of some careless Caribbean batting later in the innings, and then when the South African batsmen made a determined challenge. But Adams ended one threat after another, having Andrew Hudson (55), Daryll Cullinan (69) and Hansie Cronje (40) held in the deep as South Africa tried to chase a tough victory target of 265.

Cronje's departure virtually settled the contest but, just to make sure, the off-spinner Roger Harper then struck three times during the 41st over.

Adams judged Jonty Rhodes' skyer to perfection at deep mid-wicket before Harper sent back Brian McMillan, leg before and Steve Palframan, spectacularly caught and bowled.

South Africa, having won 10 one-day internationals in a row, were beaten despite some big hits from the tail-ender, Pat Symcox. He struck Harper for two huge sixes but, when Shaun Pollock tried to follow suit, Adams was in the right place again.

Karachi scoreboard

(West Indies won toss)

WEST INDIES

S Chanderpaul c Cullinan b McMillan 56

C O Browne c Cullinan b Matthews 26

B C Lara c Pollock b Symcox 111

*R B Richardson c Kirsten b Symcox 10

R A Harper lbw b McMillan 9

R I C Holder run out 5

K J Arthurton c Hudson b Adams 1

J C Adams not out 13

I A Bishop b Adams 17

C E L Ambrose not out 0

Extras (b2, lb11, w2, nb1) 16

Total (for 8, 50 overs) 264

Fall: 1-42, 2-180, 3-210, 4-214, 5-227, 6-230, 7-230, 8-254.

Did not bat: C A Walsh.

Bowling: Pollock 9-0-46-0; Matthews 10-0-42-1; Cronje 3-0-17-0; McMillan 10-1-37-2; Symcox 10-0-64-2; Adams 8-0-45-2.

SOUTH AFRICA

A C Hudson c Walsh b Adams 54

G Kirsten hit wicket b Ambrose 3

D J Cullinan c Bishop b Adams 69

*W J Cronje c Arthurton b Adams 40

J N Rhodes c Adams b Harper 13

B N McMillan lbw b Harper 6

S M Pollock c Adams b Harper 6

S J Palframan c & b Harper 1

P L Symcox c Harper b Arthurton 24

C R Matthews not out 8

P R Adams b Walsh 10

Extras (b1, lb4, w2, nb4) 11

Total (49.3 overs) 245

Fall: 1-21, 2-118, 3-140, 4-186, 5-196, 6-196, 7-198, 8-227, 9-228.

Bowling: Ambrose 10-0-29-1; Walsh 8.3-0-51-1; Bishop 5-0-31-0; Harper 10-0-47-4; Adams 10-0-53-3; Arthurton 6-0-29-1.

Umpires: K T Francis and S G Randell.