Departing Pollock guides South Africa to T20 victory

Prolific South-African all-rounder Shaun Pollock, playing his last Twenty20 match, steered his team by an emphatic all-round performance to register a nail-biting four-wicket win over touring West Indies team in Johannesburg as he bids adieu from Twenty20 internationals on Friday.

Chasing the target of 131 Pollock romped Proteas home at 134 for 6, with four balls to spare, after smashing two fours and two big heaves over the park in his 36 not out off 25 balls.

Pollock, who announced in the last Test played against the visitors that he will be hanging his boots after a five-match one-day series which starts at Centurion on Sunday, shared a match-winning unbeaten stand of 57 off 33 balls for the seventh wicket alongwith Albie Morkel, who remained unbeaten on 28.

South Africa was in dire straits after they were reduced to 77 for six with some fine bowling by the Windies bowlers in favourable conditions. The Proteas still needed 55 runs to win in 6.1 overs at that stage but Pollock held the fort and took the home team safely through the rough Windies winds.

South Africa required 21 off the last two overs as Pollock smacked the first two balls of the penultimate over for six off-spinner Marlon Samuels that eased down the pressure to an extent.

Earlier, West Indies made 131 for seven after being sent in on a pitch, which gave substantial amount of help to the fast bowlers. Windies team was in precarious situation when they were tottering at 79 for six in the 15th over.

But stand-in captain Dwayne Bravo dished out an attacking innings and made useful contribution of 24 off 17 balls. Though he studded two sixes but extras came as the biggest contributor in their innings total. Extras were 29 including a noteworthy 15 byes.

Darren Sammy's unbeaten 14 and Jerome Taylor's seven not out produced West Indies a valuable stand of 30 for the eighth wicket to take the team to fighting total of 131.

Pollock finished with 15 wickets in 12 Twenty20 internationals. West Indies captain, Chris Gayle, had still not recovered from a broken thumb and the side led by Bravo, who also led the side in the third and final Test in Durban.