Agencies

Port-of-Spain, May 16:

South Africa completed a seven-wicket victory in the rain-marred fifth and final one-day international against West Indies on Sunday.

South Africa won the five-match series 5-0 on Sunday and have completed an unprecedented clean sweep of an international cricket series in the Caribbean.

South Africa scored 141-3 in reply to the West Indies’ total of 138-7. Sent in to bat after play started almost five hours late because of rain, West Indies lost wickets at regular intervals and were indebted to Dwayne Bravo’s spunky, unbeaten 41 from 40 balls that contained three boundaries.

Andrew Hall with two wickets for 21 runs from four overs, and Andre Nel with two for 32 from four overs were the most successful bowlers for South Africa.

Chris Gayle blasted five fours and one six in 28 from 20 balls before he was caught at third man off Nel in the fifth over.

Two wickets fell in the next two overs to leave West Indies 48 for three in the seventh over. West Indies continued to bleed wickets, and every time it looked like one of the batsmen were just about to get into the swing of things, they would be dismissed.

Bravo however, kept the scoreboard ticking over with circumspect batting mixed with some youthful exuberance and ended with the top score.

West Indies are playing an unchanged side, but South Africa have made one change to their line-up with Justin Ontong replacing Makhaya Ntini.

The match has been reduced to 20 overs-a-side because of the rain delay.

Each bowler will be limited to a maximum of four overs, and the fielding restriction will apply for the first six overs of each innings.

South Africa lead the best-of-five series 4-0 and are looking for an unprecedented clean sweep of any kind of international series in the Caribbean, after winning the first two matches at Kingston by eight wickets each, the third ODI at Bridgetown by one run with one ball to spare, and Saturday’s penultimate match by six wickets.