South Africa hold nerve to defeat West Indies

By John Mehaffey

LONDON (Reuters) - South Africa held their nerve in the face of some dazzling stroke play from Lendl Simmons to defeat West Indies by 20 runs in their Twenty20 World Cup second round match at the Oval on Saturday.

Simmons played with fluency and flair on both sides of the wicket as West Indies launched a spirited assault on South Africa's 183 for seven.

But his dismissal for 77 from 50 deliveries with the score on 133 from the final ball of the 16th over signalled the beginning of the end for West Indies. The last five wickets fell for 26 runs to leave West Indies 163 for nine.

Left-arm pace bowler Wayne Parnell confirmed the fine impression he has made throughout the tournament, taking two wickets at the start of the West Indies innings from four deliveries. They included West Indies' captain Chris Gayle who was caught for five.

The 19-year-old returned at the end to claim two further wickets and finish with the excellent figures of four for 13.

South Africa made a good start but lost their way after Herschelle Gibbs departed for 55 from 35 balls in the 15th over, including a huge six over wide long-on off Simmons.

With five overs to go, the South Africans were handily placed for a run charge at 138 for three but Jerome Taylor, whose second over had gone for 16 runs, responded by taking three of the four wickets to fall to finish with three for 30.

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