Cricket: Cronje's decisive change of tactics

South Africa 274-9 West Indies 219 South Africa win by 55 runs

DARYLL CULLINAN became only the second player in limited overs internationals to be given out handled the ball as Hansie Cronje led South Africa to a 55-run victory of the West Indies here yesterday and a 2- 1 lead in their seven-match series.

But while Cullinan made his little piece of history it was an inspired change of tactics by South Africa's captain, Hansie Cronje, that changed the course of the match. West Indies seemed to be racing towards victory when their openers, Shivnarine Chanderpaul and Junior Murray, hit 88 in 11.3 overs in reply to South Africa's 274 for 9, but then Lance Klusener, who needed six stitches in an injured right calf, was brought on immediately on his return to the field after 11 overs had been bowled. He had Chanderpaul caught hooking and ran out Junior Murray with a direct hit from backward square leg.

Klusener, Steve Elworthy and Jacques Kallis peppered the West Indians with short-pitched bowling and although eight deliveries were no-balled because of height the tactic worked. Five batsmen fell to lifting deliveries. Kallis took 3 for 24 and Cronje 3 for 40.

Earlier, Klusener, sent in as a pinch hitter at No 3, made 64 off 74 balls while Cronje was in sparkling form with the bat, hitting 58 off 42 balls with three sixes and three fours, going to the crease after Cullinan's controversial dismissal.

Cullinan made 46 before playing a ball from the slow left-armer Keith Arthurton hard into the ground. It bounced straight up and as it came down Cullinan took his right hand off the bat and caught it. Although it did not seem likely the ball would hit the stumps, the West Indies captain, Brian Lara, appealed and Cullinan was given out by Dave Orchard.

The off-spinner Carl Hooper took 4 for 52, but Curtly Ambrose was the most impressive bowler, taking 2 for 31.

South Africa won toss

SOUTH AFRICA

D J Cullinan handled the ball 46

H H Gibbs c McLean b Hooper 29

L Klusener c Lara b Hooper 64

J H Kallis b Hooper 24

*W J Cronje c King b Ambrose 58

J N Rhodes c Murray b Arthurton 11

D M Benkenstein c Jacobs b Ambrose 10

M V Boucher c Jacobs b Hooper 5

A J Hall not out 9

P L Symcox run out (Jacobs) 5

Extras (8lb 3nb 2w) 13

Total (for 9, 50 overs) 274

Did not bat: S Elworthy.

Fall: 1-49, 2-119, 3-156, 4-183, 5-221, 6-251, 7-252, 8-261, 9-274.

Bowling: Ambrose 10-1-31-2; King 7-0-40-0 (1nb); Hooper 10-0-52-4 (1w); Arthurton 10-0-43-1 (2nb, 1w); McGarrell 5-0-41-0, McLean 8-0-59-0.

WEST INDIES

S Chanderpaul c Hall b Klusener 52

J R Murray run out (Klusener) 24

*B C Lara c Boucher b Cronje 32

C L Hooper c Boucher b Kallis 1

K L T Arthurton c Cronje b Kallis 13

K F Semple c Kallis b Cronje 22

R D Jacobs c Boucher b Cronje 0

N A M McLean c Boucher b Kallis 4

N C McGarrell c Rhodes b Elworthy 19

C E L Ambrose run out (Gibbs) 9

R D King not out 7

Extras (nb-10, w-11, lb-14, b-1) 36

Total (43.1 overs) 219

Bowling: Elworthy 7.1-1-45-1; Hall 7-0-38-0; Symcox 3-0-21-0; Klusener 6-0-31-1; Kallis 10-2-24-3; Cronje 10-1-45-3.

Fall: 1-88, 2-95, 3-101, 4-125, 5-164, 6-170, 7-177, 8-178, 9-194, 10- 219

Umpires: D Orchard, W Diedricks.

TV replay umpire: C Mitchley.

Match referee: Javed Burki (Pakistan).

Man of the match: Cronje.