West Indies won the T20 series 2-1 to boost moral for the upcoming five-match ODI series against South Africa. PHOTO: AFP
South Africa will be fielding their World Cup squad, with the exception of injured wicketkeeper Quinton de Kock, who has been replaced for the series by veteran Morne van Wyk.
The West Indies announced their one-day squad for South Africa late last year and the World Cup squad, announced last week, shows three changes.
Darren Bravo, Sunil Narine and Kemar Roach will be playing in the World Cup but are not in South Africa. Three players named for the South African series, Carlos Brathwaite, Narsingh Deonarine and Leon Johnson, will not be going to the World Cup.
AB de Villiers had a rocky start as South African one-day captain after being appointed in 2011 but the side showed major improvement last year, briefly rising to top place in the International Cricket Council rankings before suffering a 4-1 defeat in a series in Australia late last year.
Missing from the Australian series was JP Duminy, a reliable batsman and off-spin bowler, and South Africa's lack of a quality all-rounder was exposed, with their lower order batsmen struggling to maintain an acceptable scoring rate in the closing overs.
Duminy made his return to action after a knee injury in the final Twenty20 international against the West Indies on Wednesday and will give the side a better balance.
Outclassed in a Test series, the West Indies dominated the first two Twenty20 internationals before losing the third with a weakened team. They are likely to be competitive against South Africa, although the hosts will start favourites with star players De Villiers, Hashim Amla, Dale Steyn and Morne Morkel back in action after missing the Twenty20 games.
Like South Africa, the West Indies selected a different captain for each format on the tour. All-rounder Jason Holder will lead the one-day side and will also be in charge for the World Cup.
Van Wyk saves South Africa's honour in Twenty20 series
Stand-in wicketkeeper Morne van Wyk hit a maiden international century to set up a 69-run consolation win for South Africa in the third and final Twenty20 international against the West Indies at Kingsmead, Durban, on Wednesday.
Van Wyk, 35, who was recalled to the South African team because of an injury to Quinton de Kock, scored 114 not out off 70 balls with seven sixes and nine fours.
South Africa made 195 for three after being sent in.
The West Indies, who had already clinched the series by winning the first two matches, were bowled out for 126 in 19 overs.
With the West Indies holding aun unassailable lead in the series, both sides made several changes.
Notable absentees were West Indian Chris Gayle, man of the match in the first two games, because of a back injury and South African captain Faf du Plessis, who was being rested ahead of a one-day series.
Big-hitting David Miller was also missing because of back spasms.
Chasing a challenging target on a pitch which offered more to the bowlers than at the Wanderers when they succeeded with a world record run chase, the West Indies succumbed to a series of over-ambitious shots.
Lendl Simmons, in his only match of the series, hit 49 off 31 balls but the next highest score was Kieron Pollard's 20 not out.
Medium-pacer David Wiese, mixing up his pace and lengths shrewdly, took five for 23.
West Indian captain Darren Sammy said he was delighted with the attitude of the players during the series.
"I commend the way the boys played this series. Today we wanted to win but we'll take a series win," said Sammy.
Justin Ontong, who took over as South African captain for de Plessis, said the players had been determined to prevent a whitewash.
"We wanted it more. We let ourselves down in the first two games. We were hungry tonight," said OIntong.
Van Wyk was named man of the match and Gayle, who hit 77 off 31 balls and 90 off 41 balls in the first two matches, was named man of the series.
Squads
South Africa: AB de Villiers (captain), Kyle Abbott, Hashim Amla, Farhaan Behardien, JP Duminy, Faf du Plessis, Imran Tahir, David Miller, Morne Morkel, Wayne Parnell, Aaron Phangiso, Vernon Philander, Rilee Rossouw, Dale Steyn, Morne van Wyk (wkt)
West Indies: Jason Holder (captain), Suleiman Benn, Carlos Brathwaite, Jonathan Carter, Sheldon Cottrell, Narsingh Deonarine, Chris Gayle, Leon Johnson, Denesh Ramdin, Andre Russell, Darren Sammy, Marlon Samuels, Lendl Simmons, Dwayne Smith, Jerome Taylor
Fixtures
Jan 16, Durban
Jan 18, Johannesburg
Jan 21, East London
Jan 25, Port Elizabeth
Jan 28, Centurion
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