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JP Duminy stars as South Africa claim first one-day game

Jean-Paul Duminy was hailed a potential future star after guiding South Africa to a six-wicket win in the first one-day international against the West Indies at Centurion Park on Sunday.

The left-hander made a career-best unbeaten 79 as South Africa overhauled a West Indian total of 175 with two overs to spare in a match reduced by rain to 36 overs a side.

Duminy, 23, came in after South Africa lost their first two wickets for four runs. He shared stands of 55 for the third wicket with Jacques Kallis, 59 for the fourth wicket with Justin Ontong and an unbeaten 58 for the fifth wicket with Mark Boucher.

"Full credit to JP as a youngster under pressure," said Boucher, speaking on behalf of captain Graeme Smith, who was receiving treatment after suffering a knee injury while fielding.

"This innings is going to go a long way to building a lot of confidence for the future," Boucher said.

Man-of-the-match Duminy said: "I'm very happy so see the team through and hopefully this is the start of things to come."

The Duminy-Ontong stand was crucial. The two inexperienced batsmen came together when rain was falling and South Africa were behind according to the Duckworth/Lewis method.

"My heart was pumping at about 180," said Duminy of the pressure-packed period when it looked as though rain could stop play at any moment.

He and Ontong first got South Africa ahead of the required rate, then set up a comfortable win as the weather improved, with the West Indians having increasing difficulty in controlling a wet ball.

West Indian captain Dwayne Bravo, who said before the match he did not expect to bowl for another week because of a side strain, brought himself on and after starting with a wide dismissed Ontong for 23 with a spectacular catch off his own bowling, racing down the pitch and diving full length after the ball looped up off the splice of the bat.

Pakistan's batsmen plundered minnows Zimbabwe yesterday as they piled on 347-5 in the first day-night limited overs international in Karachi, Pakistan.

Nasir Jamshed smashed a 48-ball 61 on his debut after Zimbabwe put the home team in to bat, before Younis Khan (79), Mohammad Yousuf (72) Shoaib Malik (63) and Misbah-ul Haq (55 not out) joined the party.

Jamshed, who earned a place in the team after his robust 182 against the tourists in a four-day match last week, hit six boundaries and three towering sixes at the National Stadium.

The 18-year-old made his more experienced partner Salman Butt (four) a mere spectator in a brisk 45-run stand for the first wicket before holing out off medium pacer Chamu Chibhabha.

Younis and Yousuf then put on 113 for the third wicket to further punish the hapless tourists.
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