South Africa set 253 by WIndies to sweep series

South Africa were left to chase 253 for victory in the fifth and final One-day International, and a clean sweep in their five-match series against West Indies on Thursday.

The South Africans bowled with discipline to restrict the West Indies' batting, although Shivnarine Chanderpaul hit the top score of 67 from 104 balls.

Narsingh Deonarine helped himself to a run-a-ball 53 to lead the home team to 252 for six from their allocation of 50 overs in the match at Queen's Park Oval.

Before a holiday crowd of close to 10,000, the South Africans wobbled West Indies early, when they removed openers Dale Richards for 19 and Chris Gayle for 12.

But the Proteas found Chanderpaul typically rock solid, and he shared partnerships of 51 and 46 with the Bravo brothers to consolidate West Indies' position.

When Johan Botha trapped Chanderpaul lbw, West Indies were 161 for five in the 40th over, and their innings was at the crossroads.

But South Africa conceded 90 from the last 10 overs, as Deonarine, Kieron Pollard with one four and two sixes in 25 from 19 balls, and Darren Sammy batted with enterprise at the tail-end of the innings.

Lonwabo Tsotsobe was the most successful South African bowler with two wickets for 31 runs from seven overs.

West Indies made two changes to their line-up, with Sulieman Benn dropped, after he was sent-off in the previous match by captain Chris Gayle for failing to follow instructions, and Ravi Rampaul sidelined with a knee injury. Deonarine and Jerome Taylor have replaced them.

The South Africans also made two changes, with Morne Morkel rested and David Miller also sidelined with a knee injury, so Roelof van der Merwe and Mark Boucher took their places.

The Proteas lead the five-match series 4-0, after they won the fourth ODI by seven wickets last Sunday at Windsor Park in Dominica, where they also won the third ODI by 67 runs last Friday.

South Africa won the rain-affected first ODI by 66 runs, under the Duckworth-Lewis Method, two Saturdays ago at the Vivian Richards Cricket Ground in Antigua, where they won the second ODI by 17 runs.