No such problem for them today as Cronje ensured that his team's good work throughout the cricket carnival here was not messed up by staying till the end after the West Indies threatened a revival at one stage. His unbeaten 61 helped the team score a six-wicket win in the day-night final. It not only erased that dreaded tag, but also dashed the West Indian dream of capping a wonderful tournament with the title.

Considering that four of South Africa's lead players Gary Kirsten, Allan Donald, Shaun Pollock and Lance Klusener were out due to injuries, you just marvel at the talent theyhave at their disposal. Anyway, the two teams will continue with their rivalry as the West Indies is touring South Africa for a full series shortly.

Today, Wallace hit five sixes and 11 powerfully struck fours in his 102-ball knock of 103 that powered West Indies, batting first, to 245 in their 50 overs. His first fifty took 72 balls but the second came off only 26, as the Windies initially looked like scoring anything around 270-280 runs.

But Cronje is a solid performer and a good leader. He made the team regroup and a sensational collapse saw the West Indies lose seven wickets for only 65 runs off the last 15 overs.

South African openers Darryl Cullinan and Mike Rindell raced off in a spectacular fashion. The more one watches Cullinan, the more one is amazed at his lack of focus despite his enormous talent. Four boundaries in his 21 and he got himself needlessly run out.

The West Indians needed that early boost and got another, Mark Boucher, before Jacques Kallis took the stage. He is another playeraround whom, the South African board believes, will form the nucleus of their team in the 21st century. He was the bowling hero earlier taking five wickets.

SCOREBOARD

WEST INDIES: Phillo Wallace st Boucher b Cronje 103 (102b, 11x4, 5x6); Carlton Lambert c Symcox b Elworthy 7 (12b, 1x6); Shivnarine Chanderpaul lbw Boje 27 (54b, 2x4); Brian Lara b Crookes 11 (9b, 1x6); Carl Hooper c Rhodes b Kallis 49 (55b, 4x4); Keith Arthurton lbw Kallis 8 (14b, 1x4); Phil Simmons c Rhodes b Kallis 8 (13b, 1x4); Ridley Jacobs c Rhodes b Cronje 14 (21b); Rawl Lewis lbw Kallis 0 (1b); Reon King lbw Kallis 7 (16b); Merven Dillon (not out) 0 (0b). Extras (lb 4, w 7) 11. Total (all out, 49.3 overs) 245.

Fall of wickets: 1-18 (Lambert), 2-94 (Chanderpaul), 3-125 (Lara), 4-180 (Wallace), 5-193 (Arthurton), 6-213 (Simmons), 7-232 (Hooper), 8-232 (Lewis), 9-243 (Jacobs).

Bowling: Symcox 10-0-29-0, Elworthy 7-0-48-1, Boje 10-1-44-1, Rindell 2-0-13-0, Crookes 3-0-33-1, Cronje 10-0-44-2, Kallis7.3-0-30-5

SOUTH AFRICA: Mike Rindell (run out) 49 (53b, 6x4); Daryll Cullinan (run out) 21 (25b, 4x4); Mark Boucher st Jacobs b Hooper 4 (6b); Jacques Kallis c and b Simmons 37 (51b, 4x4, 1x6); Hansie Cronje (not out) 61 (77b, 4x4); Jonty Rhodes c Jacobs b Simmons 3 (9b); D.Benkenstein c Hooper b Dillon 27 (40b, 2x4); Derek Crookes (not out) 24 (21b, 3x4). Extras (b 3, lb 3, w 13, nb 3) 22. Total (for 6, 47 overs) 248

Fall of wickets: 1-54 (Cullinan), 2-60 (Boucher), 3-118 (Kallis), 4-134 (Rindell), 5-137 (Rhodes), 6-211 (Bekenstein)

Bowling: Dillon 10-0-53-1, King 10-0-42-0, Hooper 10-1-45-1, Simmons 8-0-45-2, Lewis 9-0-57-0

Man of the match: Jacques Kallis (South Africa)