That is the end of our coverage for today. Join us again in the early hours of tomorrow (at about 12:30 GMT) for the clash of the hosts, New Zealand v Australia in Auckland. Me and Sam are off for a proper lie down. In the words of the great Fred Trueman, I'll see thee.
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Well, that was all jolly exciting wasn't it? We've seen a second highest ever World Cup total, the fastest ever ODI 150 from AB de Villiers, an impressive Imran Tahir five-for and much, much more. Who saw that coming halfway through the SA innings?
If you failed to rise early enough to catch AB de Villiers innings I urge you to track down the highlights ASAP. You won't be disappointed. Truly one of the great one-day innings, that few will forget, especially poor Jason Holder. The West Indies captain had figures for 1-9 after five overs. He ended with 1-104. Ouch.
On AB De Villiers: "It's almost like witchcraft. He knows where the ball is going to be before the bowler knows it and he almost makes them put it there."
West Indies captain Jason Holder: "I thought we did well early in the game with the ball and keeping the run-rate down but then it got away from us.
"If you take away his [AB de Villiers] innings it is a totally different score but we dropped chances and psychologically chasing 400 is a huge task. We have some areas we need to improve on. Going forward we need to take the positives and try to go on with full confidence. We are confident we can make the quarter-finals and we need to play good cricket against India."
"Today was more of a true reflection of where the West Indies are than the win over Zimbabwe. It's a sad state of affairs for them. They were unceremoniously battered in this game, the likes of which I have never seen.
"I don't care what De Villiers says about it being just another game of cricket. This announces that South Africa have arrived in this World Cup. They have arrived in a big way and made everyone who had written them off make them realise they can be the real deal."
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AB De Villiers: "As a team it was a very important win for us tonight. It was important for us to step up after the loss to India in Melbourne and show what we're all about as a cricket team. After Melbourne we had a few meetings, a few good training sessions and got the boys nice and inspired for today.
"It's just another cricket game. That's the way I see it. Every time I play I feel honoured to represent my country."
Man of the match
South Africa captain and man of the match AB de Villiers, who scored 162 not out in 66 balls: "I think the credit must go to the guys up front for setting a base. Rillee [Rossouw] inspired me a bit with his effort and that affected how I played. After timing a few I got the momentum behind me.
"The main thing is to know your own game, know your strengths and weaknesses and when to hone in on the former. I enjoy myself out there. I see it as getting momentum and reading the situation in the middle. I earned the right to have a go at the bowlers in the latter stages of the innings."
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Ouch. That has got to hurt for the Windies. But I'd prefer to focus on the brilliance of South Africa. AB De Villiers truly produced one of the greatest innings of all time and Imran Tahir followed up superbly with the ball. Chokers? Forget about it.
"257 runs equals the WC record: India v Bermuda Port-of-Spain 2007.
"West Indies net run-rate was +1.339 before today. Now it is -0.313."
WICKET
Benn c Amla b Morkel 1 (WI 151 all out)
Morkel finds the edge of Benn's bat. It pops to slip. And that's it. West Indies have lost by 257 runs - it's the joint-heaviest World Cup defeat in terms of runs.
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Champagne moment
SOUTH AFRICA WIN BY 257 RUNS
WI 151-9
In comes Benn, with the Windies still needing two runs to avoid the heaviest World Cup defeat. He wriggles a single to draw level with that ignominious statistic.
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Kalika Mehta
BBC Sport in Melbourne
"The West Indies maybe collapsing on the field but the fans are still enjoying themselves in the stands. The DJ plays a bit of Bob Marley and the cheers and whistle's start.
"Both West Indies and South African fans rise to salute Jason Holder as he reaches his 50 although a few have been questioning why their other batsmen didn't manage to do something similar."
Join the debate at #bbccricket
Robert Bownes: In answer to @Swannyg66 Geoff Boycott would clearly have Katy Perry 'Firework' as his theme tune.
WICKET
Holder c Amla b Steyn 56 (WI 150-9)
Guess what? Dale Steyn hasn't taken a wicket yet. Bet he want to put that right. No chance. Holder takes a half-step forward and launches him over the cover rope for six. But the fun is ended moments later as Holder miscues a pull and picks out Amla at mid-on.
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WI 144-8 (Holder 50, Taylor 15)
Suddenly, with 50 in sight, Holder looks nervy as he pokes at and misses two Morkel deliveries before reaching the personal milestone with a push into the covers. Fair play to him for coming back from that mauling by De Villiers. Taylor then gets in on the act with a drive through mid off for four before lofting one to a similar area for another two runs.
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WI 137-8 (Holder 49, Taylor 9)
This is getting a bit comical now. Taylor top-edges a ball from Abbott but once again it drops bang between two onrushing fielders. Holder then crunches a pull through mid-wicket for four. Get that out of my face. A clip to squre leg for two takes the West Indies captain to within one of his half-century.
"I like these musical interludes when we bring in the commentators. I think we should bring that in for TMS in England. Aggers could have Engelbert Humperdinck, I could have Whitesnake. I don't know what Geoffrey would have..."
WI 129-8 (Tahir 5-45 from 10)
Tahir wraps up a brilliant 10 overs in eventful fashion. He almost has Taylor caught at point but the fielder came in too quickly and allowed the ball to drop a yard behind him. Holder then takes over and smashes a four and a six in successive balls to take him to 42.
Join the debate at #bbccricket
Tobias Haines: Why are the rest of the World playing ODIs like 20/20's and England insist on playing them like short Test matches?
Frank Meehan: This is why Martin Crowe is right about restricting bat development. It's getting to be pointless to be a bowler.
116-8 (Taylor 6, Holder 31)
Taylor steers an attempted yorker from Abbott down to the long-on boundary to move West Indies to with three of avoiding that heaviest defeat total of 118. The tail-ender almost goes a couple of balls later as he skies a flashing drive towards third man. Two men converge on it but it bisects them and drops safe.
WI 110-8 (Tahir 5-32 off 9)
Tahir has five wickets to his name and now he has a rare maiden as he pins Taylor down at the striker's end.
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WI 110-8 (Taylor 1, Holder 30)
Abbott returns to the attack and wraps Holder on the pads, but he is outside the line and the lbw shouts from the bowler are in vain. The new man is Jerome Taylor, who has an eventful over, getting off the mark with a single, taking one in the box from Abbott and then surviving what replays show was a clear lbw because South Africa didn't review.
"Very well bowled. This game is meandering towards the close. Are they going to get to 119 and avoid the worst defeat?"
WICKET
Ramdin b Tahir 22 (WI 108-8)
The game was suffering a bit of a lull but Tahir perks it up again by flighting a ball through the defence of Ramdin and onto the stumps. That is five-for for the leg-spinner. He celebrates by dropping to his knees and pressing his forehead to the turf.
"I feel privileged to have witnessed AB's batting tonight."
WI 103-7 (runs required 306)
West Indies' only realistic target now is to try and avoid the heaviest defeat in ODIs. They need to reach 118 to do so. Ramdin gets them four closer with a sliced cut down to the third-man boundary off Du Plessis before he and Holder add a single apiece.
WI 96-7 (Ramdin 13, Holder 26)
Holder thrashes another boundary off Tahir through cover but he is clearly still struggling with whatever injury brought the physio on a few overs back. He is hardly mobile in the crease, opting instead to stand tall and swing.
"De Villiers is becoming like Madonna now. Or Prince. All you have to say is AB and people know who you are talking about."
WI 91-7 (Ramdin 13, Holder 21)
Du Plessis continues and concedes six more runs as the Windies pass 90. These two batsmen are doing ok, to be fair, not that it will make a jot of difference to the outcome of this match.
WI 85-7 (Holder 16, Ramdin 12)
The Windies still have some bite in them as Holder illustrates with a huge hit off Tahir down the ground for six. Only four more from the West Indies captain and he will be six neutral for the match.
WI 76-7 (Run-rate 3.61, required 11.48)
It is not often South Africa have a team seven down for 70-odd and Steyn hasn't taken a wicket. He is withdrawn and replaced by spinner Du Plessis, who gives the West Indies the gentlest over they have faced all innings. hey take four from it to creep that little bit closer to three figures.
WI 72-7 (Holder 7, Ramdin 8)
Holder takes some of his frustration out on Tahir by smashing the spinner over the rope for a six. You can't begrudge him that. He's had a stinker of a day.
WI 64-7 (Ramdin 7, Holder 0)
Holder's day isn't getting any better. He is flat out and the physio is on and pushing his leg to treat an injury (cramp maybe?). Or he may just not fancy facing Steyn in these circumstances? However, from that position on his back, he is in a good place to try and spot some of the balls De Villiers hit off him returning to orbit. Just the one run off Steyn's sixth over as Ramdin cuts one to deep point.
WI 63-7 (Ramdin 6, Holder 0)
Captain Holder comes out, no doubt still shell-shocked after the total pummelling he took from De Villiers earlier. He sees off the last two balls of Tahir's over for no runs.
WICKET
Russell c Abbott b Tahir 0 (WI 63-7)
The West Indies are completely falling apart now. Andre Russell lasts just three balls, the first of which saw him survive an lbw call and the third he chopped to point for the diving Abbott to claim just a few inches above the ground. It is a superb catch and leaves the chasing side in total disarray.
APCopyright: AP
WICKET
Sammy st De Kock b Tahir 5 (WI 63-6)
Great work by Tahir and especially De Kock sees off Sammy. The spinner beats the advancing batsmen and the keeper whips off the bails before he can plant his foot back inside his ground.
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WI 63-5 (runs required 346)
In flies Steyn after drinks. He finds the edge of Sammy but the ball goes wide of second slip for a single. Ramdin has a prod at one later in the over but there is no nick as De Kock gathers.
Join the debate at #bbccricket
Henry Ellison: We are watching the disintegration of a West Indian cricketing heritage before our very eyes. Very hard to watch
Cup format still to be decided
There could be hope for the associate nations yet. The number of teams taking part in the 2019 World Cup hasn't been finalised yet according to the International Cricket Council. The ICC have been criticised for plans to reduce the number of teams involved in England in four years' time to 10 from 14. But ICC chief executive David Richardson has had this to say to AFP...
"I've learnt never to say never to anything. I'm sure the format of the next World Cup will be debated after this one has finished. I'm pleased with the performances of the qualifiers so far, but the bigger tests are still to come. The question is what do you want the World Cup to be? Do you want it to be a jamboree of world cricket or the pinnacle of the one-day game?"
WI (Sammy 4, Ramdin 6)
The pace dips as Tahir continues, but the threat remains. It is another good over from the leggy, who goes for just the one run. The required run-rate rises again. You have to feel sorry for these batsmen, it is an impossible situation.
WI 61-5 (Sammy 3, Ramdin 6)
Back come Steyn and quickly finds his rhythm. He concedes an early single to Sammy before firing a rapid delivery past the outside edge of Ramdin, who is then pinned at the striker's end. The required run-rate for West Indies? Just a cheeky 9.94.
"Tahir is a confidence bowler, but if you haven't got confidence when you've got 400 on the board, when will you have it?"
WI 60-5 (Sammy 2, Ramdin 6)
Tahir continues and almost sneaks a sneaky, skiddy delivery through Sammy's defence with his first ball. Sammy gets off the mark from the next ball with a prod through cover. Two more singles take the West Indies to 60, just the 349 runs short of their target.
WI 57-5 (Sammy 0, Ramdin 5)
In comes Darren Sammy. Good luck son, you're going to need it. And the rest. Ramdin is on strike, though, and he produces a lovely cut shot to clatter a short Morkel ball to the boundary. Morkel responds by cutting one right through the shoddy defence of the Windies keeper. I've just seen replays of the Simmons wicket and he got a huge inside edge. Why no review?! Madness!
WICKET
Simmons lbw Tahir 0 (WI 53-5)
We're looking at potential record defeats now. After Ramdin gets off the mark with a single, Simmons fails to see out the over out as he is trapped in front by Tahir.
"It was an excellent catch in truth. Smith will feel that he should have gone a lot straighter but his bottom hand closed the face of the bat, and Miller, with his athleticism, did the rest."
WICKET
Smith c Miller b Tahir 31 (WI 52-4)
The West Indies are crumbling. Smith takes leg-spinner Imran Tahir on first ball and launches him down the ground, but after he doesn't quite catch it, Miller does with a well-taken diving catch.
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WICKET
Carter c de Villiers b Morkel 10 (WI 52-3)
Carter is gone as he pulls a short ball from Morkel for the diving De Villiers to claim after moving from mid-on. It is a dismissal tinged with controversy, though, as replays of the ball before show that Morkel overstepped by a large margin. The wicket ball should have been a free hit.
Smith got a duck against Zimbabwe but he is playing himself back into some form here. He smashes another one straight for four off Abbott and then pushes one to mid-on for a single.
WI 42-2 (Smith 25, Carter 6)
Smith keeps up his positive approach by plating his front foot and lifting a decent ball from Morkel over mid-on for four. A flick to short fine leg brings the West Indies batsman another run. Carter flashes at the last ball but misses.
WI 37-2 (Smith 20, Carter 6)
An over of what could have beens for Abbott, who goes for six. The West Indies pair are swinging hard at the ball but the next wicket appears to be pending.
Dropped catch
Oh Imran Tahir, how have you dropped that?! Smith spoons a drive to him at mid-on off Abbott but the spinner spills it after diving forward. It was an easy chance. To rub salt into Abbott's wound, Smith then inside edges one past his own stumps and down to the boundary for four.
WI 31-2 (runs required 378)
Morne Morkel comes on to give Steyn a rest. His first ball is flicked to deep mid-wicket for a single by Smith, who is then nearly run out when going for a quick run later in the over. A clean hit from the throw and Smith was gone.
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Kalika Mehta
BBC Sport in Melbourne
"The pocket of West Indian fans in the Bill O'Riley stand gasping in shock as both their opening batsman depart and with them most likely their chances of chasing down the mammoth target.
"The tournament drummers are banging their drums with some vigour as the DJ tries to hype up the crowd with some SecondCity - 'I wanna feel'.
"It certainly amped up the South African fans, now dotted around the entire lower echelons of the SCG, who are continuing to enjoy themselves, as they sense a big victory after the disappointment in Melbourne last Sunday."
Michael Vaughan: "I guess they will just blame the modern bats.... 162 off 66 balls from @ABdeVilliers17 #Genius."
WI 29-2 (Smith 14, Carter 4)
When Steyn is bowling with such ferocity, you can only pray for a bit of relief from the other end. In his first two overs, Abbott provided none but Smith decides to take the game to him with a powerful drive through cover for four before Carter crunches a short one through mid-wicket for another boundary. If they go down (and that is looking all but certain) the West Indies are going down fighting.
20-2 (runs required 389)
The West Indies are nearly 400 runs shy of the South Africa total, their two best batsmen are back in the tent and Dale Steyn is getting quicker. It is the perfect storm of impossible situations. Smith's answer is to try and take the bowler out (possibly) by smashing the ball back at him. Steyn has to take evasive action and misses out on the caught and bowled chance, with the Windies nicking a run. A wide, a leg bye and another single take the West Indies to 20.
WI 16-2 (Smith 8, Carter 0)
The left-handed Jo Carter joins in the fun. Well, it's fun for one of the teams. He starts by shouldering arms to a few Abbott deliveries. No rush Jo, you've only got another 393 runs to get.
WICKET
Samuels c De Kock b Abbott 0 (WI 15-2)
Abbott strikes again as Samuels wafts at a short ball and nicks the ball to De Kock. Not content with decimating the West Indies bowling attack, South Africa are now gutting their top order.
"Big celebrations from the South Africans. They know that the one guy capable of making this nervous for the South Africans is walking back the pavilion."
WI 15-1 (Smith 7, Samuels 0)
Steyn charges in and is taken for a single by Smith before he pins Samuels at the striker's end. The West Indies batsman drops to his knees after a shortish ball stays very low and nearly cleans him up. Despite the dodgy haircut, the South African opener is not a man to mess with in full flight.
WI 13-1 (Smith 7, Samuels 0)
The new man is Marlon Samuels, who is looks plum lbw from his first ball from Abbott. The umpire isn't convinced, though, and South Africa opt not to review it. Replays show that the ball would have demolished middle stump.
WICKET
Gayle b Abbott 3 (WI 12-1)
Is this game over? Gayle steps to leg to make room for a hit through off but he misses and the death rattle follows. Abbott's delight is uncontained. He knows how big a wicket that is for his side.
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WI 10-0 (Gayle 3, Smith 7)
Dwayne Smith and Chris Gayle start in positive fashion, looking to go after Dale Steyn. Gayle pulls his second ball over mid-on to collect three runs to add to his partner's single from the first ball. Smith then finishes the over with an absolute belter of a pull that sends the ball rocketing over the mid-wicket boundary. 10 off the over. Just another 399 runs to go...
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That West Indies response will be starting shortly as we have players out on the pitch. One of those players is West Indies opener Chris Gayle, who is surely the only man who can get his side anywhere near this total. The fact that it is a massive ask, even for him, illustrates the size of the South Africa total. Dale Steyn has the new ball in his hand.
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Sam has gone for a lie down after that stunning end to the innings. I'm Phil Dawkes and I'll be taking you through the start of the West Indies response. Question is: how do you respond to what has just happened?!
Join the debate at #bbccricket
Ciaran Ellard: Unbelievable from AB de Villiers. Your turn now Chris Gayle
Jack Williams: There's only 1 man capable of getting anywhere near SA monster total. And he's playing in this game. Chris Gayle
Stat attack
AB De Villiers has recorded the fastest 150 in ODI history by reaching the mark in 64 balls, beating the previous record of 83 balls by Shane Watson against Bangladesh in Mirpur in 2011.
South Africa's total of 408-5 is the second highest in World Cups behind 413-5 India v Bermuda at Port-of-Spain in 2007.
"This is SA's highest World Cup total beating 356-4 v WI at St George's in 2007 and South Africa becoming the first team to have 4 totals over 350 in World Cup matches."
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South Africa 408-5 (50 overs)
Not out batsmen: De Villiers 162, Behardien 10
Fall of wickets: 18-1 (De Kock 12), 145-2 (Du Plessis 62), 146-3 (Amla 65), 280-4 (Rossouw 61), 328-5 (Miller 20)
Bowling figures: Taylor 8-1-64-0, Holder 10-2-104-1, Russell 9-0-74-2, Samuels 2-0-14-0, Benn 10-0-79-0, Sammy 7-0-50-0, Gayle 4-0-21-2
Melvin Koshy: When a bowler has two maidens and also concedes 104 runs; we're sure there'd been some carnage out there
Martyn Hearne: Wow AB De Villiers entertains once again , best ODI batsman ever ? Got to be considered to be up there with Sir Viv now
Richard Hoskins 21k: 162* off 66 balls from the greatest ODI batsman in cricket history. Just incredible, de Villiers
Captain fantastic
South Africa captain AB de Villiers: "It was a very enjoyable knock today. The foundation form the boys at the start freed me up. I had a bit of luck here and there. I'm not a huge fan of setting targets but we had plans in place of reaching 300 halfway through the innings. This game is only half way and the only thing on my mind is winning it. We want to go and defend this total now."
SA 408-5 (De Villiers 162, Behardien 10)
It simply does not matter where the West Indies bowl it, De Villiers hits it for six. Holder's second and third balls travel a mile over the boundary before he then fires the fourth for a four to take him to 150 from 64 balls. Yes, 64 balls. He decides to end the innings with two more sixes, one of which fires South Africa past 400. I'm not sure De Villiers is even human. Stunning. Simply stunning.
"They should test him. He's not all man. He's part machine. If you cut him open, it would be liquid metal. Holder has gone for 75 off his last three overs."
SA 378-5 (De Villiers 132, Behardien 10)
De Villiers is off strike but there is no let up as Behardien gets in on the action with a clean hit down the ground for six off Russell. A single puts De Villiers back centre stage and he does not disappoint by smashing one to leg for another maximum that just beats a diving fielder. The SA captain is then dropped at extra cover by Smith. It was travelling to be fair.
"AB de Villiers is just three balls short of recording the fastest World Cup 100. His 52-ball effort today is now the second-fastest behind Kevin O'Brien's 50-ball effort for Ireland against England at the 2011 event.
"De Villiers now has 100s in all three World Cup games he has played against West Indies and becomes the first player to make three World Cup 100s against one opponent."
SA 364-5
No let up. No let up at all. Full toss, four. Reverse sweep for six.. Then he laucnhes one into outer space. Benn is under it, but doesn't even get a hand to it. Poor effort. One ball to go. Another almighty six over midwicket. You'd better believe it.
De Villiers 100
Holder to De Villiers, swing, four. That's 99. How will he get to the ton? How do you think? Smashed over the bowler's head for six. That's how!
SA 330-5
Farhaan Behardien strolls out to join the fun. I'd leave it to the skipper mate...
"What a catch. It was one of those moments of brilliance, with a bit of luck thrown in. It was almost as if he was resigned to it being six and was just trying to stop it."
WICKET
Miller c Taylor b Russell 20 (SA 328-5)
OMG. This is extraordinary. David Miller slaughters a ball from Russell but Taylor runs round the boundary and pluck the ball out of the air one-handed. Beautiful.
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Kalika Mehta
BBC Sport in Melbourne
"As South Africa have found their grove the Randwick End has filled up and their fans are in full voice as their star man, or as the PA announcer called him 'hitman', AB de Villiers moves through the gears to elevate his side to a big score.
"The DJ pulls out the old classic Rock This Party (Everybody Dance Now) by Bob Sinclar, Cutee B, Dollarman, Big Ali and Makedah from 2006 as De Villiers sends the ball over the ropes and it's caught by a fan. Everyone duly obliges. The South African fans are rather enjoying this party."
SA 323-4 (De Villiers 89, Miller 20)
It's minimum two a ball at the moment as these two livewires tuck into Windies captain Jason Holder. A borderline wide brings a rare dot ball. The next ball is wider and rightly called. Then Miller - in the air - and Chris Gayle proves he's human by totally misreading the ball and letting it ball slip past his fingertips. Not quite so cool from the ice king.
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South Africa 312-4 (45 overs)
Not out batsmen: De Villiers 89, Miller 10
Fall of wickets: 18-1 (De Kock 12), 145-2 (Du Plessis 62), 146-3 (Amla 65), 280-4 (Rossouw 61)
Bowling figures: Taylor 8-1-64-0, Holder 7-2-29-1, Russell 7-0-53-1, Samuels 2-0-14-0, Benn 10-0-79-0, Sammy 7-0-50-0, Gayle 4-0-21-2
Sam Jones: Who is handsome enough and talented enough to play De Villiers in a film? Surely the man himself.
SA 312-4 (Benn 10-0-79-0)
Another breathtaking shot from AB De Villiers. He somehow anticipates a low full toss outside off stump and hoiks it over fine leg for a sixer. Amazing stuff at the SC.
"It is impressive how Miller times the ball from the word go. Some players come in and scratch around for a bit but Miller is there right from the start. It is no wonder he is such a hot property at the moment."
SA 299-4
De Villiers continues to have the cricket ball on a piece of string as he lashes Benn away for back-to-back fours. South Africa up to 299 and counting.
SA 286-4 (De Villiers 69, Miller 5)
Miller hits his first ball to long-on for two. Then a single apiece before Miller repeats the trick. These two could do a lot of damage in the final seven overs here.
WICKET
Rossouw c Ramdin b Russell 61 (SA 280-4)
Rossouw tries to hit Russell behind square, but gets a thick edge through to Ramdin, who pouches cleanly. That ends a partnership of 134 runs in 12.3 overs. And breathe.
"We've not seen a bowler emerge who has got to grips with the death yet. No bowler is delivering good yorkers or bouncers. The batsmen have ruled the roost in every game at the death. Surely a bowler will emerge with a new tactic."
SA 280-3 (De Villiers 68, Rossouw 61)
Here's a stat for you. AB De Villiers hits a boundary every four deliveries in the last 10 overs of an ODI. A boundary apiece to him and Rossouw as the Proteas continue their charge towards 300 and beyond.
SA 269-3
Short? Only slightly, but short enough for AB to slap it through mid-on for four. The next ball is creamed over extra cover. If I were a Windies bowler right now, I'd be developing a very tight hamstring.
"AB de Villiers reached 3,000 ODI runs as captain when on nine today. His 60 innings as captain to reach this milestones is the quickest in ODIs.
"India's MS Dhoni is next quickest with 70 innings, fellow Indian Sourav Ganguly reached the figure in 74, with South Africa's Graeme Smith managing it in 83."
SA 258-3 (De Villiers 53, Rossouw 54)
Extraordinary. A whip of the wrists and De Villiers has hit Benn over extra cover for six. Back to back fours follow. And that's his fifty off 30 balls. One day they'll make a movie about this guy. But who would you cast in his role? That's 72 runs off the batting powerplay - the highest of this tournament.
Rossouw 50
SA 240-3
The Windies are starting to get ragged now, just when they need cool heads. Taylor sends down a leg side wide. Then a ball sits up outside off stump and Rossouw jumps off his toes and launches it over point for six to bring up his second ODI fifty. He also scored two hundreds against the Windies in January.
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Kalika Mehta
BBC Sport in Sydney
ReutersCopyright: Reuters
"Cricket isn't the only thing on the minds of those sat in the crowd today. A group of South African fans had a rather heated debate about Andre Russell's hairstyle. One was insistent it was the best of any player in the entire tournament, while another said if he were his child, he'd force him to shave it all off. Who knew a mohawk could be so divisive?"
"It is exquisite from De Villiers. The timing is extraordinary and his head barely moves. When he hits it, unless it is right next to the fielder, it is four runs.
SA 224-3 (Rossouw 42, De Villiers 34)
De Villiers has taken the bait. Back to back fours, the first over the bowler's head, the second pulverised through the covers. When this man hits it, it really does stay hit.
SA 212-3
Loose from Taylor. A low full toss and Rossouw leathers it through cover for four. Then a push for two brings up the SA 200. No ball. Free hit. Rossouw is denied a boundary as he slams the ball into De Villiers's toes. No worries, he makes amends by smacking the next ball for four. The young man has 40 off 26 balls. Keep up AB.
SA 194-3 (Rossouw 28, De Villiers 19)
De Villiers is one of those players who scores at a run a ball without appearing to exert himself in the slightest. That's par for him.
SA 186-3 (Rossouw 24, De Villiers 15)
So, when does AB go medieval? Last 10 probably? It wasn't so long ago he was scoring a 30-ball ton against this same opposition. The pacey Taylor is treated with respect, dabbed hither and thither before Rossouw pulls the final ball to the rope for four. Strap in for the final 15.
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Comedian Andy Zaltzman on Twitter: Chris Gayle in this WC: 5wkts in 4 games average 17. Gayle in ODIs prior to this WC, since July 2008: 9wkts in 80 ODIs, average 94.
SA 176-3 (Rossouw 17, De Villiers 12)
To say Gayle ambles up to the wicket would probably be an offence to amblers all around the world. It's more of a trot. Anyway, he blots his copybook with a wide in an otherwise tidy over. Time for some drinks in the scorching Sydney sunshine.
SA 171-3 (Gayle 2-16)
Maybe Gayle was unwise to rile up Rilee Rossouw. He swats Sammy for back to back fours in the next over to get the Proteas back on the front foot.
SA 160-3
ReutersCopyright: Reuters
Chris Gayle is loving life at the moment. Running to retrieve the ball he barges into Rossouw then fixes his opponent with an angry stare. Moments later his face collapses into laughter. Rossouw looks utterly bemused.
South Africa's AB de Villiers has made centuries in each of the last two World Cup meetings between these teams: 146 in 2007 and 107* in 2011.
Chris Gayle needs to score 141 to join Brian Lara and Viv Richards as the only West Indians with 1,000 World Cup runs. He also needs four sixes to become the leading World Cup career six-hitter. He is currently on 28, behind Ricky Ponting (31).
SA 153-3 (De Villiers 6, Rossouw 2)
Rilee Rossouw - drafted in for JP Duminy today - is a 25-year-old left-hander playing his 15th ODI. His strategy here seems to be to nudge the singles and give AB de V as much strike as possible. A wise head on young shoulders.
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Antony Stewart: Chris Gayle. Is there anything he can't do??
SA 147-3 (Sammy 0-32)
There I was thinking to myself that Amla and Du Plessis were treading a very similar path to Dilshan and Sangakkara yesterday, and in the blink of an eye they're both gone. Oh well, it's not all bad news for South Africa. AB De Villiers is in now, and he averages 253 against West Indies in World Cup cricket.
Scorecard update
South Africa 146-3 (30 overs)
Not out batsmen: De Villiers 1, Rossouw 1
Fall of wickets: 18-1 (De Kock 12), 145-2 (Du Plessis 62), 146-3 (Amla 65)
Bowling figures: Taylor 5-1-20-0, Holder 5-2-9-1, Russell 4-0-23-0, Samuels 2-0-14-0, Benn 7-0-37-0, Sammy 5-0-32-0, Gayle 2-0-10-2
Another one! Chris Gayle is the man with the Midas touch at the moment. He traps Amla slap bang in front of his middle peg and that is plum pie. Two wickets in three balls.
"It is an incredible reaction from the West Indies. Ramdin turned away with pain on his face, shaking his hand. I thought at first Du Plessis had hit Ramdin's hand with the bat. Chris Gayle was the only who jumped to celebrate the wicket. His heart-rate got above about 45."
WICKET
Du Plessis c Ramdin b Gayle 62 (SA 145-2)
Hang on - he's out. Du Plessis has a huge swing, gets an edge and the ball somehow lodges in the webbing of Ramdin's glove. The keeper looks amazed and stares at the ball in his hands, then belatedly celebrates. Wicket for Gayle. Du Plessis is gone.
SA 146-1
Cracking shot from Du Plessis, leaning back and spooning over extra cover for a one-bounce four. This is following a very similar pattern to the Sri Lanka innings yesterday...
SA 136-1 (Amla 64, Du Plessis 54)
Now then, time for Chris Gayle to turn his arm over a bit. I think he's a better bowler than people give him credit for. It's a gentle set of six and the South Africans are happy to tickle ones and twos.
"I don't really understand South Africa's reticence to score at all in the first 10. It was Test match style. Now they have changed it up and are scoring freely. I just think they have missed a trick and are 30 or 40 short of where they should be."
Du Plessis 50
SA 128-1
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The batsmen had a chat between overs. I think it's time to move up yet another gear. Faf Du Plessis completes his fifty off 59 balls with a pull for four. Nine runs from the over. Lots and lots of batting to come remember.
SA 119-1 (Amla 59, Du Plessis 43)
Thank you Phil for that invigorating stint. I'm Sam Sheringham and I'll be seeing this innings to the end.
Hashim Amla's six was clearly a declaration of intent and he has another big swing at Benn and gets a thick outside edge for two. That's the 100 partnership between these two.
SA 112-1 (Du Plessis 39, Amla 56)
Darren Sammy brings the innings to its halfway point with his fourth over. It is an over that contains the innings' first six, which Amla smashes back down the ground to bring up his 50 (his 28th in ODIs). He adds to that with two from the last ball, via a chip to the leg side.
SA 102-1 (Amla 47, Du Plessis 38)
South Africa's 100 come sup courtesy of a flick through mid-on for one from Amla. The foundations continue to be laid by the South African pair in the form of five singles, the last of which came from an Amla smash down the track that almost takes his partner's head off at the non-striker's end.
"It's nip and tuck at the moment. it's almost like a boxing match with the two teams circling around it each. South Africa will be very pleased to have only lost one wicket, the West Indies will be happy to have kept the run rate down. It's going to be a good contest."
Post update
Kalika Mehta
BBC Sport in Sydney
"A couple of fours bring the crowd to their feet and the South African flags in the Bill O'Riley and the Victor Trumper are being waved furiously.
"The loudest cheer from this relatively paltry crowd thus far was reserved for Sulieman Benn when he used his foot to stop the ball from reaching the boundary. The pre-match football warm-up seems to have come to fruition for the towering West Indian."
SA 97-1 (Amla 44, Du Plessis 36)
Amla is battling hard and slashing the ball away for singles but his timing is not quite there. But as long as he is at the crease and keeping the runs coming (albeit slowly), South Africa are well-placed to accelerate later in the innings. They have plenty of firepower in the tent. Sammy's third over goes for three singles.
SA 94-1 (Amla 42, Du Plessis 35)
Benn concedes a couple of singles in his first two balls before almost sneaking through Du Plessis' defence with one that is just short of a length. Du Plessis responds by dancing down to the next and hammering one back at the bowler for a catching chance that beats him for pace and is dropped. That would have been a timely blow for the West Indies, who started superbly but could do with another wicket now.
Scorecard update
South Africa 90-1 (21 overs)
Not out batsmen: Amla 40, Du Plessis 33
Fall of wickets: 18-1 (De Kock 12)
Bowling figures: Taylor 5-1-20-0, Holder 5-2-9-1, Russell 4-0-23-0, Samuels 1-0-5-0, Benn 4-0-21-0, Sammy 2-0-10-0
There is greater intent about Amla now, who is foiled by the fielder at mid-off with a flashing drive before a nudge to the leg side brings him one. Du Plessis quickly hands the strike back to his partner, but Sammy ties him up with a full, straight delivery.
SA 87-1 (Du Plessis 31, Amla 39)
A small committee meeting between the umpires and the West Indies captain ahead of the 20th over appears to be to discuss the state of the ball. Benn is handed it again and is worked around nicely by the SA pair for four singles.
SA 83-1 (Amla 37, Du Plessis 29)
South Africa may not be blasting boundaries with regularity but they are turning dot balls into singles and ones into twos now. It helps that these two are pretty pacey between the stumps. Darren Sammy is the new West Indies bowler and almost ends his over with a wicket by catching the outside edge of Du Plessis bat. No slip means South Africa pick up two more runs.
"The tide is turning just a little bit. I think Hashim Amla has made the decision to bat all the way through. There will come a stage where one of these batsmen will attack a lot more. They need to get a good foundation and set the scene for AB De Villiers."
SA 76-1 (Amla 33, Du Plessis 26)
The gangly figure of Benn ambles in for another over of spin and he catches the outside edge of Amla's bat with his fourth delivery but it is a thick enough one to take it past the keeper and down to third man for two. He then belts one to long-on to keep the strike.
SA (run-rate 4.23)
Andre Russell resumes with a bouncer that the umpire adjudges to be a wide. It is fair to say the bowler does not agree. Du Plessis drives one through mid-on for two before picking up another single with a steer from a short ball.
"South Africa's compulsory power play scores in this tournament: 28-2 v Zim, 38-1 v Ind, 30-1 today. Their average of 32 runs in the compulsory power plays is the lowest of any team in the tournament to date."
SA 68-1 (Du Plessis 22, Amla 30)
The South African pair have clearly decided now is the time to accelerate. Amla benefits from a short Benn ball, which he rocks back and cuts behind point to the boundary. The batsmen then rotate the strike effectively to keep the scoreboard ticking over before drinks. With wickets in the tent, this scratchy start can develop into something far more promising with a concerted period of positive batting from these two.
SA 58-1 (Amla 23, Du Plessis 19)
South Africa are back in the boundary game as Du Plessis latches on to a short one from Russell and pulls it to the midwicket boundary. Amla then looks to step up his own game with a slice through point for three.
Post update
Kalika Mehta
BBC Sport in Sydney
"The West Indies fans are enjoying seeing their bowlers put the squeeze on Hashim Amla and Faf du Plessis; although I reckon they would be far livelier and louder if a a certain Christopher Henry Gayle was smashing the ball to all corners of the ground. For now the fans seem to be enjoying bathing in the sun and why wouldn't they, it's an absolutely gorgeous day."
SA 49-1 (Amla 19, Du Plessis 14)
Marlon Samuels lasts just one over as Sulieman Benn takes over spin duties for the West Indies. It is a good first over as well from the towering bowler, who goes for just a trio of singles.
"When I woke up this morning it was raining and I was very worried we were in danger of a shortened game. It looks like a very difficult pitch on which to time the ball, or maybe the batsmen are just lacking confidence."
Post update
Kalika Mehta
BBC Sport in Sydney
"Compared the smouldering cacophony of sound the South Africans had to deal with at the MCG during their loss to India today's match is going along at a rather sedate pace, both on the pitch and in the stands.
"With the Sydney Cricket Ground hosting it's first match of this World Cup, it seems that perhaps the early morning downpour may have put off a number of fans with the ground only really 1/3 full at present."
SA 46-1 (Amla 17, Du Plessis 13)
Russell has a brief lapse from the accuracy of his first over but such is the mire South Africa are in at the moment, they are unable to fully capitalise. After clipping one round the corner for a couple, Amla is gifted a full ball outside off but doesn't connect properly and only gets two. Du Plessis then gets lucky with a top-edged pull that falls just short of Sulieman Benn, coming round from wide third man.
SA 39-1 (run-rate 3.20)
Marlon Samuels brings some spin to proceedings and Du Plessis tries to get his side going with an inventive attempted paddle shot that doesn't quite connect but brings him two runs before he clips one to deep square leg to give Amla a chance to add a run himself courtesy of punch down the ground.
SA 34-1 (Amla 10, Du Plessis 8)
West Indies' first bowling change sees the mohawk-sporting Andre Russell come into the attack. He picks up where Taylor left off with some tidy, disciplined stuff, with Du Plessis whipping the loosest ball of the lot - his last- through midwicket for two. We've not had a boundary since the fourth over.
If it ain't broke, don't fix it. Holder charges in again and, barring a very wide delivery that Du Plessis fails to capitalise on, rattles through another effective over that goes for just a single off the last. That is brilliant first 10 for the West Indies. The fact that Amla has nine from 25 balls tells its own story.
SA 29-1 (Du Plessis 5, Amla 9)
Amla does really well with two drives to pick out the fielders at point and then cover. A yard either side of each and he would have a couple of boundaries. Amla does eventually get a run with a pull down to backward square leg. Du Plessis adds another to the total with a drive to mid-off as SA continue their very gentle progress.
SA 27-1 (Amla 8, Du Plessis 4)
Another decent Holder over keeps the pressure on South Africa and new man Du Plessis in particular, who pulls to bring himself two but then has to be solid in defence to keep out a fullish delivery. Free-flowing attacking batting this is not.
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Antony Stewart: Really disciplined, dangerous start from the Windies. So promising.
SA 24-1 (Amla 7, Du Plessis 2)
Amla works Taylor around the circle to plunder three runs as South Africa look to consolidate after the loss of De Kock. Du Plessis gets off the mark with a checked drive through cover, which benefits from the pace of the outfield to bring him two.
SA 18-1 (Amla 4, Du Plessis 0)
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Faf du Plessis is the new man and he sees out the rest of Holder's over - his second maiden of the innings and wicket one at that. Take a bow son.
"De Kock can't believe he's just got out to a big long-hop outside off stump. He has such a good record during his short time in the South African team, but he has to go."
WICKET
De Kock c Russell b Holder 12 (SA 18-1)
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De Kock goes! He will be very disappointed with that dismissal. It is a gift to the West Indies as he wafts at a short one from Holder and gives an easy catch to Andre Russell at cover point. De Kock never looked entirely comfortable during his brief tenure at the crease.
"I have rather mixed feelings sitting in this commentary box, the memories of last year's three-day Ashes thrashing still fresh."
SA 18-0 (De Kock 12, Amla 4)
Amla is finally away as Taylor over-pitches and the stylish right-hander thumps it down the ground for two before an inside edge through square leg brings him another couple. Taylor responds well to tie the bearded 31-year-old at the striker's end. West Indies know very well what Amla is capable of - his highest ODI score of 153* came against them this year in Johannesburg.
SA 14-0 (Amla 0, De Kock 12)
Holder's radar wavers as he slings one wide down leg to gift South Africa a run. It could have been worse but for an acrobatic diving stop from keeper Denesh Ramdin. Amla gets off strike, but not off the mark, courtesy of a leg bye. A huge slice of luck keeps De Kock at the crease as he inside edges a delivery just a few inches past his stumps. The ball undeservedly races away for four much to Holder's frustration.
22 runs off one ball
The SCG does hold happy World Cup memories for the South Africans.
Appearing at the tournament for the first time following the apartheid ban in 1992, the Proteas beat Australia, West Indies, Pakistan and India en route to the semi-finals. Their contest against England was bubbling up to boiling point when the rain - and the controversial rules - combined to produce the ultimate damp squib.
After a 12-minute rain delay, South Africa's target was adjusted from 22 runs off 13 balls to an impossible 22 off one, leaving the Proteas incensed and England embarrassed as they limped into the final.
There is a bit of understandable nervousness about this SA opening pair. They turn down a clear run to leg before De Kock wafts unsuccessfully at a short one from Taylor, who adds to his captain's maiden in the previous over with one of his own. This is an impressive start from the West Indies.
SA 8-0 (De Kock 8, Amla 0)
Jason Holder comes in from the Randwick End and causes Amla some serious problems with one that jags back off a length and right through a gap in the batsman's defence. It is the highlight of a superb maiden over from the Windies skipper.
SA 8-0 (Amla 0, De Kock 8)
A positive start for SA as De Kock cuts Taylor's second ball and watches as it races rapidly away and beats a diving fielder to the boundary. Three balls later he plays a checked drive and is rewarded with another boundary. This outfield has some real pace about it.
Post update
Quinton de Kock and Hashim Amla are the openers for South Africa. Jerome Taylor has the new cherry in his hand. Here we go...
The match will be SA's 50th World Cup match, of which they have won 31, lost 16 and tied two.
Of head-to-heads in ODIs which have had 50 or more matches, South Africa's win-loss ratio over West Indies is the second highest at 3.23. SA have won 42 and lost 13 of the 57 encounters between these teams (1 Tie, 1 NR). The only higher win-loss ratio is 4.40 by India v Zimbabwe (won 44, lost 2).
Post update
The teams are out on the pitch for the anthems. The West Indies players are, pretty much to a man, decked out in trendy shades. Not a pair of Ray-Bans* in sight on the South Africa team, who link arms in solidarity. They need every ounce of team spirit to claim a much-needed win today.
"South Africa have gone very quickly from one of the tournament favourites to not being spoken about a lot. That 'choke' word has risen its head again."
A word with the skippers
South Africa captain AB de Villiers: "We just want to play good cricket and win games. Luckily we have won the toss but you can't control certain things. Bat, bowl, you need to do both to win the World Cup. We have had some nice discussions and haven't hit many balls in the last two days. It wasn't our best performance against India, it was a bit embarrassing, but it is a long tournament and we have a chance to put that right."
West Indies captain Jason Holder: "It is a good wicket. I'm not disheartened to bowl first. Hopefully we will pick up some early wickets and put pressure on them."
Back to his best?
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West Indies captain Jason Holder played down opener Chris Gayle's absence from training on Thursday. The Jamaican has been trying to manage a long-term back problem.
"In terms of Chris's fitness, obviously he's been struggling with his back. So we're trying to monitor him as best as we possibly can," Holder said.
South Africa skipper AB de Villiers joked: "He doesn't train often. I played with him in Bangalore, and you don't often see him in the nets. His body is quite old for his age, I think."
Gayle said earlier this week that he has had the back injury since January last year.
"It's the same injury. It can't seem to be solved, to be honest with you," he said. "It's a bit of a mind thing. I try and do a lot of massage. I'm a person that likes to go to the gym, and I've been restricted from that for a couple of months as well."
AB walking the tightrope
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South Africa skipper AB de Villiers admits he is under pressure now that he is one slow over-rate infraction away from a suspension.
He was fined 20% of his match fee after the Proteas were ruled to be one over behind in their defeat by India, and faces a one-match ban for a repeat offence.
"I think all the captains are under pressure. They're a little bit more lenient with normal series around the world, but this tournament is under the spotlights - you get one warning and then you're suspended," he explained.
"The seamers need time. They need time to get the marks and get the fields right. And with those longer run-ups, they get tired. So it's understandable for a seamer to waste a bit more time, but the fielders have got to get the intensity up and obviously the part-time bowlers will have to help."
TMS
Test Match Special is now on air on BBC Radio 5 live Sports Extra. You can follow this via the live coverage tab at the top of the this page.
Team news
No JP Duminy, no Vernon Philander and no Wayne Parnell for SA. Duminy has been struggling with injury ahead of the game, while Philander has a hamstring strain. It provides a chance for Kyle Abbott, Farhaan Behardien, Rilee Roussow in the starting XI.
Just the one change for West Indies as Nikita Miller is replaced by Suliemann Benn.
Today's teams
West Indies team: Chris Gayle, Dwayne Smith, Marlon Samuels, Jonathan Carter, Denesh Ramdin (wk), Lendl Simmons, Darren Sammy, Andre Russell, Jason Holder (capt), Jerome Taylor, Sulieman Benn.
South Africa team: Hashim Amla, Quinton de Kock, Faf Du Plessis, Rilee Russouw, AB de Villiers, David Miller, Farhaan Behardien, Kyle Abbott, Dale Steyn, Morne Morkel, Imran Tahir.
Expect fireworks
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Before this tournament began, we asked you to select your all-time one-day XI. Sachin, Brian, Sir Viv, Shane, Wasim, they were all in there. You also opted to include two men who will be front and centre when South Africa take on the West Indies in Sydney today: Christopher Henry Gayle and Abraham Benjamin de Villiers.
The pair have 18,521 ODI runs between them going into this game, with Gayle smashing 215 of them in his side's last game against Zimbabwe. ABDV hasn't quite hit the heights he's capable of yet but surely it is only a matter of time. If both players bring their A game today we are in for a cracking game of cricket.
Toss
SA win the toss and bat first
AB de Villiers tosses the coin, heads is the call and it is a win for South Africa, who will be batting first.
WI v SA
Good morning. How are you all feeling? Bright as a button and ready for some more World Cup cricket? Of course you are.
Just the one game today, but it has the potential to be an absolute belter as West Indies take on South Africa in Sydney. It's the two-time winners against the perennial underachievers, second in the group against fourth, Chris Gayle against AB de Villiers. Better buckle yourself in.
Live Reporting
Phil Dawkes and Sam Sheringham
All times stated are UK
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- South Africa's AB de Villiers has made centuries in each of the last two World Cup meetings between these teams: 146 in 2007 and 107* in 2011.
- Chris Gayle needs to score 141 to join Brian Lara and Viv Richards as the only West Indians with 1,000 World Cup runs. He also needs four sixes to become the leading World Cup career six-hitter. He is currently on 28, behind Ricky Ponting (31).
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- The match will be SA's 50th World Cup match, of which they have won 31, lost 16 and tied two.
- Of head-to-heads in ODIs which have had 50 or more matches, South Africa's win-loss ratio over West Indies is the second highest at 3.23. SA have won 42 and lost 13 of the 57 encounters between these teams (1 Tie, 1 NR). The only higher win-loss ratio is 4.40 by India v Zimbabwe (won 44, lost 2).
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Latest PostPost update
That is the end of our coverage for today. Join us again in the early hours of tomorrow (at about 12:30 GMT) for the clash of the hosts, New Zealand v Australia in Auckland. Me and Sam are off for a proper lie down. In the words of the great Fred Trueman, I'll see thee.
Post update
Well, that was all jolly exciting wasn't it? We've seen a second highest ever World Cup total, the fastest ever ODI 150 from AB de Villiers, an impressive Imran Tahir five-for and much, much more. Who saw that coming halfway through the SA innings?
If you failed to rise early enough to catch AB de Villiers innings I urge you to track down the highlights ASAP. You won't be disappointed. Truly one of the great one-day innings, that few will forget, especially poor Jason Holder. The West Indies captain had figures for 1-9 after five overs. He ended with 1-104. Ouch.
Post update
Graeme Swann
Ex-England spinner on BBC Test Match Special
On AB De Villiers: "It's almost like witchcraft. He knows where the ball is going to be before the bowler knows it and he almost makes them put it there."
Scorecard
West Indies 151 all out (33.1 overs)
Fall of wickets: 12-1 (Gayle 3), 16-2 (Samuels 0), 52-3 (Carter 10), 52-4 (Smith 31), 53-5 (Simmons 0), 63-6 (Sammy 5), 63-7 (Russell 0), 108-8 (Ramdin 22), 150-9 (Holder 56), 151-10 (Benn 1)
Bowling figures: Steyn 7-0-24-1, Abbott 8-0-37-2, Morkel 5.1-0-23-2, Tahir 10-1-45-5, Du Plessis 3-0-17-0
South Africa won toss
Scorecard
Listen to Test Match Special commentary
Captain's view
West Indies captain Jason Holder: "I thought we did well early in the game with the ball and keeping the run-rate down but then it got away from us.
"If you take away his [AB de Villiers] innings it is a totally different score but we dropped chances and psychologically chasing 400 is a huge task. We have some areas we need to improve on. Going forward we need to take the positives and try to go on with full confidence. We are confident we can make the quarter-finals and we need to play good cricket against India."
Post update
Graeme Swann
Ex-England spinner on BBC Test Match Special
"Today was more of a true reflection of where the West Indies are than the win over Zimbabwe. It's a sad state of affairs for them. They were unceremoniously battered in this game, the likes of which I have never seen.
"I don't care what De Villiers says about it being just another game of cricket. This announces that South Africa have arrived in this World Cup. They have arrived in a big way and made everyone who had written them off make them realise they can be the real deal."
Post update
AB De Villiers: "As a team it was a very important win for us tonight. It was important for us to step up after the loss to India in Melbourne and show what we're all about as a cricket team. After Melbourne we had a few meetings, a few good training sessions and got the boys nice and inspired for today.
"It's just another cricket game. That's the way I see it. Every time I play I feel honoured to represent my country."
Man of the match
South Africa captain and man of the match AB de Villiers, who scored 162 not out in 66 balls: "I think the credit must go to the guys up front for setting a base. Rillee [Rossouw] inspired me a bit with his effort and that affected how I played. After timing a few I got the momentum behind me.
"The main thing is to know your own game, know your strengths and weaknesses and when to hone in on the former. I enjoy myself out there. I see it as getting momentum and reading the situation in the middle. I earned the right to have a go at the bowlers in the latter stages of the innings."
Post update
Ouch. That has got to hurt for the Windies. But I'd prefer to focus on the brilliance of South Africa. AB De Villiers truly produced one of the greatest innings of all time and Imran Tahir followed up superbly with the ball. Chokers? Forget about it.
Post update
Andrew Samson
BBC Test Match Special statistician
"257 runs equals the WC record: India v Bermuda Port-of-Spain 2007.
"West Indies net run-rate was +1.339 before today. Now it is -0.313."
WICKET
Benn c Amla b Morkel 1 (WI 151 all out)
Morkel finds the edge of Benn's bat. It pops to slip. And that's it. West Indies have lost by 257 runs - it's the joint-heaviest World Cup defeat in terms of runs.
Champagne moment
SOUTH AFRICA WIN BY 257 RUNS
WI 151-9
In comes Benn, with the Windies still needing two runs to avoid the heaviest World Cup defeat. He wriggles a single to draw level with that ignominious statistic.
Post update
Kalika Mehta
BBC Sport in Melbourne
"The West Indies maybe collapsing on the field but the fans are still enjoying themselves in the stands. The DJ plays a bit of Bob Marley and the cheers and whistle's start.
"Both West Indies and South African fans rise to salute Jason Holder as he reaches his 50 although a few have been questioning why their other batsmen didn't manage to do something similar."
Join the debate at #bbccricket
Robert Bownes: In answer to @Swannyg66 Geoff Boycott would clearly have Katy Perry 'Firework' as his theme tune.
WICKET
Holder c Amla b Steyn 56 (WI 150-9)
Guess what? Dale Steyn hasn't taken a wicket yet. Bet he want to put that right. No chance. Holder takes a half-step forward and launches him over the cover rope for six. But the fun is ended moments later as Holder miscues a pull and picks out Amla at mid-on.
WI 144-8 (Holder 50, Taylor 15)
Suddenly, with 50 in sight, Holder looks nervy as he pokes at and misses two Morkel deliveries before reaching the personal milestone with a push into the covers. Fair play to him for coming back from that mauling by De Villiers. Taylor then gets in on the act with a drive through mid off for four before lofting one to a similar area for another two runs.
WI 137-8 (Holder 49, Taylor 9)
This is getting a bit comical now. Taylor top-edges a ball from Abbott but once again it drops bang between two onrushing fielders. Holder then crunches a pull through mid-wicket for four. Get that out of my face. A clip to squre leg for two takes the West Indies captain to within one of his half-century.
Post update
Graeme Swann
Ex-England spinner on BBC Test Match Special
"I like these musical interludes when we bring in the commentators. I think we should bring that in for TMS in England. Aggers could have Engelbert Humperdinck, I could have Whitesnake. I don't know what Geoffrey would have..."
WI 129-8 (Tahir 5-45 from 10)
Tahir wraps up a brilliant 10 overs in eventful fashion. He almost has Taylor caught at point but the fielder came in too quickly and allowed the ball to drop a yard behind him. Holder then takes over and smashes a four and a six in successive balls to take him to 42.
Join the debate at #bbccricket
Tobias Haines: Why are the rest of the World playing ODIs like 20/20's and England insist on playing them like short Test matches?
Frank Meehan: This is why Martin Crowe is right about restricting bat development. It's getting to be pointless to be a bowler.
116-8 (Taylor 6, Holder 31)
Taylor steers an attempted yorker from Abbott down to the long-on boundary to move West Indies to with three of avoiding that heaviest defeat total of 118. The tail-ender almost goes a couple of balls later as he skies a flashing drive towards third man. Two men converge on it but it bisects them and drops safe.
WI 110-8 (Tahir 5-32 off 9)
Tahir has five wickets to his name and now he has a rare maiden as he pins Taylor down at the striker's end.
WI 110-8 (Taylor 1, Holder 30)
Abbott returns to the attack and wraps Holder on the pads, but he is outside the line and the lbw shouts from the bowler are in vain. The new man is Jerome Taylor, who has an eventful over, getting off the mark with a single, taking one in the box from Abbott and then surviving what replays show was a clear lbw because South Africa didn't review.
Post update
Andrew Samson
BBC Test Match Special statistician
"Tahir is the first spinner to take five wickets in World Cup match for SA. The previous best was 4-12 R Peterson v Bangladesh at Mirpur in 2011."
In case you missed it...
Earlier on we witnessed something truly special from AB De Villiers. Here's the lowdown on a knock and a half...
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Graeme Swann
Ex-England spinner on BBC Test Match Special
"Very well bowled. This game is meandering towards the close. Are they going to get to 119 and avoid the worst defeat?"
WICKET
Ramdin b Tahir 22 (WI 108-8)
The game was suffering a bit of a lull but Tahir perks it up again by flighting a ball through the defence of Ramdin and onto the stumps. That is five-for for the leg-spinner. He celebrates by dropping to his knees and pressing his forehead to the turf.
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Graeme Swann
Ex-England spinner on BBC Test Match Special
"I feel privileged to have witnessed AB's batting tonight."
WI 103-7 (runs required 306)
West Indies' only realistic target now is to try and avoid the heaviest defeat in ODIs. They need to reach 118 to do so. Ramdin gets them four closer with a sliced cut down to the third-man boundary off Du Plessis before he and Holder add a single apiece.
WI 96-7 (Ramdin 13, Holder 26)
Holder thrashes another boundary off Tahir through cover but he is clearly still struggling with whatever injury brought the physio on a few overs back. He is hardly mobile in the crease, opting instead to stand tall and swing.
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Quentin Hull
BBC Test Match Special
"De Villiers is becoming like Madonna now. Or Prince. All you have to say is AB and people know who you are talking about."
WI 91-7 (Ramdin 13, Holder 21)
Du Plessis continues and concedes six more runs as the Windies pass 90. These two batsmen are doing ok, to be fair, not that it will make a jot of difference to the outcome of this match.
WI 85-7 (Holder 16, Ramdin 12)
The Windies still have some bite in them as Holder illustrates with a huge hit off Tahir down the ground for six. Only four more from the West Indies captain and he will be six neutral for the match.
WI 76-7 (Run-rate 3.61, required 11.48)
It is not often South Africa have a team seven down for 70-odd and Steyn hasn't taken a wicket. He is withdrawn and replaced by spinner Du Plessis, who gives the West Indies the gentlest over they have faced all innings. hey take four from it to creep that little bit closer to three figures.
WI 72-7 (Holder 7, Ramdin 8)
Holder takes some of his frustration out on Tahir by smashing the spinner over the rope for a six. You can't begrudge him that. He's had a stinker of a day.
WI 64-7 (Ramdin 7, Holder 0)
Holder's day isn't getting any better. He is flat out and the physio is on and pushing his leg to treat an injury (cramp maybe?). Or he may just not fancy facing Steyn in these circumstances? However, from that position on his back, he is in a good place to try and spot some of the balls De Villiers hit off him returning to orbit. Just the one run off Steyn's sixth over as Ramdin cuts one to deep point.
WI 63-7 (Ramdin 6, Holder 0)
Captain Holder comes out, no doubt still shell-shocked after the total pummelling he took from De Villiers earlier. He sees off the last two balls of Tahir's over for no runs.
WICKET
Russell c Abbott b Tahir 0 (WI 63-7)
The West Indies are completely falling apart now. Andre Russell lasts just three balls, the first of which saw him survive an lbw call and the third he chopped to point for the diving Abbott to claim just a few inches above the ground. It is a superb catch and leaves the chasing side in total disarray.
WICKET
Sammy st De Kock b Tahir 5 (WI 63-6)
Great work by Tahir and especially De Kock sees off Sammy. The spinner beats the advancing batsmen and the keeper whips off the bails before he can plant his foot back inside his ground.
WI 63-5 (runs required 346)
In flies Steyn after drinks. He finds the edge of Sammy but the ball goes wide of second slip for a single. Ramdin has a prod at one later in the over but there is no nick as De Kock gathers.
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Henry Ellison: We are watching the disintegration of a West Indian cricketing heritage before our very eyes. Very hard to watch
Cup format still to be decided
There could be hope for the associate nations yet. The number of teams taking part in the 2019 World Cup hasn't been finalised yet according to the International Cricket Council. The ICC have been criticised for plans to reduce the number of teams involved in England in four years' time to 10 from 14. But ICC chief executive David Richardson has had this to say to AFP...
"I've learnt never to say never to anything. I'm sure the format of the next World Cup will be debated after this one has finished. I'm pleased with the performances of the qualifiers so far, but the bigger tests are still to come. The question is what do you want the World Cup to be? Do you want it to be a jamboree of world cricket or the pinnacle of the one-day game?"
WI (Sammy 4, Ramdin 6)
The pace dips as Tahir continues, but the threat remains. It is another good over from the leggy, who goes for just the one run. The required run-rate rises again. You have to feel sorry for these batsmen, it is an impossible situation.
WI 61-5 (Sammy 3, Ramdin 6)
Back come Steyn and quickly finds his rhythm. He concedes an early single to Sammy before firing a rapid delivery past the outside edge of Ramdin, who is then pinned at the striker's end. The required run-rate for West Indies? Just a cheeky 9.94.
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Barry Richards
Ex-South Africa batsman on BBC Test Match Special
"Tahir is a confidence bowler, but if you haven't got confidence when you've got 400 on the board, when will you have it?"
WI 60-5 (Sammy 2, Ramdin 6)
Tahir continues and almost sneaks a sneaky, skiddy delivery through Sammy's defence with his first ball. Sammy gets off the mark from the next ball with a prod through cover. Two more singles take the West Indies to 60, just the 349 runs short of their target.
WI 57-5 (Sammy 0, Ramdin 5)
In comes Darren Sammy. Good luck son, you're going to need it. And the rest. Ramdin is on strike, though, and he produces a lovely cut shot to clatter a short Morkel ball to the boundary. Morkel responds by cutting one right through the shoddy defence of the Windies keeper. I've just seen replays of the Simmons wicket and he got a huge inside edge. Why no review?! Madness!
WICKET
Simmons lbw Tahir 0 (WI 53-5)
We're looking at potential record defeats now. After Ramdin gets off the mark with a single, Simmons fails to see out the over out as he is trapped in front by Tahir.
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Ian Bishop
Ex-West Indies pace bowler on BBC Test Match Special
"It was an excellent catch in truth. Smith will feel that he should have gone a lot straighter but his bottom hand closed the face of the bat, and Miller, with his athleticism, did the rest."
WICKET
Smith c Miller b Tahir 31 (WI 52-4)
The West Indies are crumbling. Smith takes leg-spinner Imran Tahir on first ball and launches him down the ground, but after he doesn't quite catch it, Miller does with a well-taken diving catch.
WICKET
Carter c de Villiers b Morkel 10 (WI 52-3)
Carter is gone as he pulls a short ball from Morkel for the diving De Villiers to claim after moving from mid-on. It is a dismissal tinged with controversy, though, as replays of the ball before show that Morkel overstepped by a large margin. The wicket ball should have been a free hit.
Latest scorecard
West Indies 72-7 (20 overs)
Not out batsmen: Ramdin 8, Holder 7
Fall of wickets: 12-1 (Gayle 3), 16-2 (Samuels 0), 52-3 (Carter 10), 52-4 (Smith 31), 53-5 (Simmons 0), 63-6 (Sammy 5), 63-7 (Russell 0)
Bowling figures: Steyn 6-0-17-0, Abbott 5-0-21-2, Morkel 4-0-16-1, Tahir 4-1-5-4
South Africa won toss
Scorecard
Listen to Test Match Special commentary
WI 47-2 (runs required 362)
Smith got a duck against Zimbabwe but he is playing himself back into some form here. He smashes another one straight for four off Abbott and then pushes one to mid-on for a single.
WI 42-2 (Smith 25, Carter 6)
Smith keeps up his positive approach by plating his front foot and lifting a decent ball from Morkel over mid-on for four. A flick to short fine leg brings the West Indies batsman another run. Carter flashes at the last ball but misses.
WI 37-2 (Smith 20, Carter 6)
An over of what could have beens for Abbott, who goes for six. The West Indies pair are swinging hard at the ball but the next wicket appears to be pending.
Dropped catch
Oh Imran Tahir, how have you dropped that?! Smith spoons a drive to him at mid-on off Abbott but the spinner spills it after diving forward. It was an easy chance. To rub salt into Abbott's wound, Smith then inside edges one past his own stumps and down to the boundary for four.
WI 31-2 (runs required 378)
Morne Morkel comes on to give Steyn a rest. His first ball is flicked to deep mid-wicket for a single by Smith, who is then nearly run out when going for a quick run later in the over. A clean hit from the throw and Smith was gone.
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Kalika Mehta
BBC Sport in Melbourne
"The pocket of West Indian fans in the Bill O'Riley stand gasping in shock as both their opening batsman depart and with them most likely their chances of chasing down the mammoth target.
"The tournament drummers are banging their drums with some vigour as the DJ tries to hype up the crowd with some SecondCity - 'I wanna feel'.
"It certainly amped up the South African fans, now dotted around the entire lower echelons of the SCG, who are continuing to enjoy themselves, as they sense a big victory after the disappointment in Melbourne last Sunday."
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BBC cricket correspondent Jonathan Agnew on Twitter: "Don't believe I've seen that AB innings. 162* from 66. 96 runs from last 5 overs. Holder goes for 75 from his last 3."
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Michael Vaughan: "I guess they will just blame the modern bats.... 162 off 66 balls from @ABdeVilliers17 #Genius."
WI 29-2 (Smith 14, Carter 4)
When Steyn is bowling with such ferocity, you can only pray for a bit of relief from the other end. In his first two overs, Abbott provided none but Smith decides to take the game to him with a powerful drive through cover for four before Carter crunches a short one through mid-wicket for another boundary. If they go down (and that is looking all but certain) the West Indies are going down fighting.
20-2 (runs required 389)
The West Indies are nearly 400 runs shy of the South Africa total, their two best batsmen are back in the tent and Dale Steyn is getting quicker. It is the perfect storm of impossible situations. Smith's answer is to try and take the bowler out (possibly) by smashing the ball back at him. Steyn has to take evasive action and misses out on the caught and bowled chance, with the Windies nicking a run. A wide, a leg bye and another single take the West Indies to 20.
WI 16-2 (Smith 8, Carter 0)
The left-handed Jo Carter joins in the fun. Well, it's fun for one of the teams. He starts by shouldering arms to a few Abbott deliveries. No rush Jo, you've only got another 393 runs to get.
WICKET
Samuels c De Kock b Abbott 0 (WI 15-2)
Abbott strikes again as Samuels wafts at a short ball and nicks the ball to De Kock. Not content with decimating the West Indies bowling attack, South Africa are now gutting their top order.
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Graeme Swann
Ex-England spinner on BBC Test Match Special
"Big celebrations from the South Africans. They know that the one guy capable of making this nervous for the South Africans is walking back the pavilion."
WI 15-1 (Smith 7, Samuels 0)
Steyn charges in and is taken for a single by Smith before he pins Samuels at the striker's end. The West Indies batsman drops to his knees after a shortish ball stays very low and nearly cleans him up. Despite the dodgy haircut, the South African opener is not a man to mess with in full flight.
WI 13-1 (Smith 7, Samuels 0)
The new man is Marlon Samuels, who is looks plum lbw from his first ball from Abbott. The umpire isn't convinced, though, and South Africa opt not to review it. Replays show that the ball would have demolished middle stump.
WICKET
Gayle b Abbott 3 (WI 12-1)
Is this game over? Gayle steps to leg to make room for a hit through off but he misses and the death rattle follows. Abbott's delight is uncontained. He knows how big a wicket that is for his side.
WI 10-0 (Gayle 3, Smith 7)
Dwayne Smith and Chris Gayle start in positive fashion, looking to go after Dale Steyn. Gayle pulls his second ball over mid-on to collect three runs to add to his partner's single from the first ball. Smith then finishes the over with an absolute belter of a pull that sends the ball rocketing over the mid-wicket boundary. 10 off the over. Just another 399 runs to go...
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That West Indies response will be starting shortly as we have players out on the pitch. One of those players is West Indies opener Chris Gayle, who is surely the only man who can get his side anywhere near this total. The fact that it is a massive ask, even for him, illustrates the size of the South Africa total. Dale Steyn has the new ball in his hand.
Post update
Sam has gone for a lie down after that stunning end to the innings. I'm Phil Dawkes and I'll be taking you through the start of the West Indies response. Question is: how do you respond to what has just happened?!
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Ciaran Ellard: Unbelievable from AB de Villiers. Your turn now Chris Gayle
Jack Williams: There's only 1 man capable of getting anywhere near SA monster total. And he's playing in this game. Chris Gayle
Stat attack
AB De Villiers has recorded the fastest 150 in ODI history by reaching the mark in 64 balls, beating the previous record of 83 balls by Shane Watson against Bangladesh in Mirpur in 2011.
South Africa's total of 408-5 is the second highest in World Cups behind 413-5 India v Bermuda at Port-of-Spain in 2007.
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Andrew Samson
BBC Test Match Special statistician
"This is SA's highest World Cup total beating 356-4 v WI at St George's in 2007 and South Africa becoming the first team to have 4 totals over 350 in World Cup matches."
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South Africa 408-5 (50 overs)
Not out batsmen: De Villiers 162, Behardien 10
Fall of wickets: 18-1 (De Kock 12), 145-2 (Du Plessis 62), 146-3 (Amla 65), 280-4 (Rossouw 61), 328-5 (Miller 20)
Bowling figures: Taylor 8-1-64-0, Holder 10-2-104-1, Russell 9-0-74-2, Samuels 2-0-14-0, Benn 10-0-79-0, Sammy 7-0-50-0, Gayle 4-0-21-2
South Africa won toss
Scorecard
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Melvin Koshy: When a bowler has two maidens and also concedes 104 runs; we're sure there'd been some carnage out there
Martyn Hearne: Wow AB De Villiers entertains once again , best ODI batsman ever ? Got to be considered to be up there with Sir Viv now
Richard Hoskins 21k: 162* off 66 balls from the greatest ODI batsman in cricket history. Just incredible, de Villiers
Captain fantastic
South Africa captain AB de Villiers: "It was a very enjoyable knock today. The foundation form the boys at the start freed me up. I had a bit of luck here and there. I'm not a huge fan of setting targets but we had plans in place of reaching 300 halfway through the innings. This game is only half way and the only thing on my mind is winning it. We want to go and defend this total now."
SA 408-5 (De Villiers 162, Behardien 10)
It simply does not matter where the West Indies bowl it, De Villiers hits it for six. Holder's second and third balls travel a mile over the boundary before he then fires the fourth for a four to take him to 150 from 64 balls. Yes, 64 balls. He decides to end the innings with two more sixes, one of which fires South Africa past 400. I'm not sure De Villiers is even human. Stunning. Simply stunning.
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Graeme Swann
Ex-England spinner on BBC Test Match Special
"They should test him. He's not all man. He's part machine. If you cut him open, it would be liquid metal. Holder has gone for 75 off his last three overs."
SA 378-5 (De Villiers 132, Behardien 10)
De Villiers is off strike but there is no let up as Behardien gets in on the action with a clean hit down the ground for six off Russell. A single puts De Villiers back centre stage and he does not disappoint by smashing one to leg for another maximum that just beats a diving fielder. The SA captain is then dropped at extra cover by Smith. It was travelling to be fair.
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Graeme Swann
Ex-England spinner on BBC Test Match Special
"This is bordering on criminal from De Villiers. He's five steps ahead of the bowler."
How's stat?
Andrew Samson
BBC Test Match Special statistician
"AB de Villiers is just three balls short of recording the fastest World Cup 100. His 52-ball effort today is now the second-fastest behind Kevin O'Brien's 50-ball effort for Ireland against England at the 2011 event.
"De Villiers now has 100s in all three World Cup games he has played against West Indies and becomes the first player to make three World Cup 100s against one opponent."
SA 364-5
No let up. No let up at all. Full toss, four. Reverse sweep for six.. Then he laucnhes one into outer space. Benn is under it, but doesn't even get a hand to it. Poor effort. One ball to go. Another almighty six over midwicket. You'd better believe it.
De Villiers 100
Holder to De Villiers, swing, four. That's 99. How will he get to the ton? How do you think? Smashed over the bowler's head for six. That's how!
SA 330-5
Farhaan Behardien strolls out to join the fun. I'd leave it to the skipper mate...
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Jonathan Agnew
BBC Test Match Special
"What a catch. It was one of those moments of brilliance, with a bit of luck thrown in. It was almost as if he was resigned to it being six and was just trying to stop it."
WICKET
Miller c Taylor b Russell 20 (SA 328-5)
OMG. This is extraordinary. David Miller slaughters a ball from Russell but Taylor runs round the boundary and pluck the ball out of the air one-handed. Beautiful.
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Kalika Mehta
BBC Sport in Melbourne
"As South Africa have found their grove the Randwick End has filled up and their fans are in full voice as their star man, or as the PA announcer called him 'hitman', AB de Villiers moves through the gears to elevate his side to a big score.
"The DJ pulls out the old classic Rock This Party (Everybody Dance Now) by Bob Sinclar, Cutee B, Dollarman, Big Ali and Makedah from 2006 as De Villiers sends the ball over the ropes and it's caught by a fan. Everyone duly obliges. The South African fans are rather enjoying this party."
SA 323-4 (De Villiers 89, Miller 20)
It's minimum two a ball at the moment as these two livewires tuck into Windies captain Jason Holder. A borderline wide brings a rare dot ball. The next ball is wider and rightly called. Then Miller - in the air - and Chris Gayle proves he's human by totally misreading the ball and letting it ball slip past his fingertips. Not quite so cool from the ice king.
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South Africa 312-4 (45 overs)
Not out batsmen: De Villiers 89, Miller 10
Fall of wickets: 18-1 (De Kock 12), 145-2 (Du Plessis 62), 146-3 (Amla 65), 280-4 (Rossouw 61)
Bowling figures: Taylor 8-1-64-0, Holder 7-2-29-1, Russell 7-0-53-1, Samuels 2-0-14-0, Benn 10-0-79-0, Sammy 7-0-50-0, Gayle 4-0-21-2
South Africa won toss
Scorecard
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Sam Jones: Who is handsome enough and talented enough to play De Villiers in a film? Surely the man himself.
SA 312-4 (Benn 10-0-79-0)
Another breathtaking shot from AB De Villiers. He somehow anticipates a low full toss outside off stump and hoiks it over fine leg for a sixer. Amazing stuff at the SC.
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Graeme Swann
Ex-England spinner on BBC Test Match Special
"It is impressive how Miller times the ball from the word go. Some players come in and scratch around for a bit but Miller is there right from the start. It is no wonder he is such a hot property at the moment."
SA 299-4
De Villiers continues to have the cricket ball on a piece of string as he lashes Benn away for back-to-back fours. South Africa up to 299 and counting.
SA 286-4 (De Villiers 69, Miller 5)
Miller hits his first ball to long-on for two. Then a single apiece before Miller repeats the trick. These two could do a lot of damage in the final seven overs here.
WICKET
Rossouw c Ramdin b Russell 61 (SA 280-4)
Rossouw tries to hit Russell behind square, but gets a thick edge through to Ramdin, who pouches cleanly. That ends a partnership of 134 runs in 12.3 overs. And breathe.
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Graeme Swann
Ex-England spinner on BBC Test Match Special
"We've not seen a bowler emerge who has got to grips with the death yet. No bowler is delivering good yorkers or bouncers. The batsmen have ruled the roost in every game at the death. Surely a bowler will emerge with a new tactic."
SA 280-3 (De Villiers 68, Rossouw 61)
Here's a stat for you. AB De Villiers hits a boundary every four deliveries in the last 10 overs of an ODI. A boundary apiece to him and Rossouw as the Proteas continue their charge towards 300 and beyond.
SA 269-3
Short? Only slightly, but short enough for AB to slap it through mid-on for four. The next ball is creamed over extra cover. If I were a Windies bowler right now, I'd be developing a very tight hamstring.
How's stat?
Andrew Samson
BBC Test Match Special statistician
"AB de Villiers reached 3,000 ODI runs as captain when on nine today. His 60 innings as captain to reach this milestones is the quickest in ODIs.
"India's MS Dhoni is next quickest with 70 innings, fellow Indian Sourav Ganguly reached the figure in 74, with South Africa's Graeme Smith managing it in 83."
SA 258-3 (De Villiers 53, Rossouw 54)
Extraordinary. A whip of the wrists and De Villiers has hit Benn over extra cover for six. Back to back fours follow. And that's his fifty off 30 balls. One day they'll make a movie about this guy. But who would you cast in his role? That's 72 runs off the batting powerplay - the highest of this tournament.
Rossouw 50
SA 240-3
The Windies are starting to get ragged now, just when they need cool heads. Taylor sends down a leg side wide. Then a ball sits up outside off stump and Rossouw jumps off his toes and launches it over point for six to bring up his second ODI fifty. He also scored two hundreds against the Windies in January.
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Kalika Mehta
BBC Sport in Sydney
"Cricket isn't the only thing on the minds of those sat in the crowd today. A group of South African fans had a rather heated debate about Andre Russell's hairstyle. One was insistent it was the best of any player in the entire tournament, while another said if he were his child, he'd force him to shave it all off. Who knew a mohawk could be so divisive?"
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Barry Richards
Ex-South Africa batsman on BBC Test Match Special
"It is exquisite from De Villiers. The timing is extraordinary and his head barely moves. When he hits it, unless it is right next to the fielder, it is four runs.
SA 224-3 (Rossouw 42, De Villiers 34)
De Villiers has taken the bait. Back to back fours, the first over the bowler's head, the second pulverised through the covers. When this man hits it, it really does stay hit.
SA 212-3
Loose from Taylor. A low full toss and Rossouw leathers it through cover for four. Then a push for two brings up the SA 200. No ball. Free hit. Rossouw is denied a boundary as he slams the ball into De Villiers's toes. No worries, he makes amends by smacking the next ball for four. The young man has 40 off 26 balls. Keep up AB.
SA 194-3 (Rossouw 28, De Villiers 19)
De Villiers is one of those players who scores at a run a ball without appearing to exert himself in the slightest. That's par for him.
SA 186-3 (Rossouw 24, De Villiers 15)
So, when does AB go medieval? Last 10 probably? It wasn't so long ago he was scoring a 30-ball ton against this same opposition. The pacey Taylor is treated with respect, dabbed hither and thither before Rossouw pulls the final ball to the rope for four. Strap in for the final 15.
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Comedian Andy Zaltzman on Twitter: Chris Gayle in this WC: 5wkts in 4 games average 17. Gayle in ODIs prior to this WC, since July 2008: 9wkts in 80 ODIs, average 94.
SA 176-3 (Rossouw 17, De Villiers 12)
To say Gayle ambles up to the wicket would probably be an offence to amblers all around the world. It's more of a trot. Anyway, he blots his copybook with a wide in an otherwise tidy over. Time for some drinks in the scorching Sydney sunshine.
SA 171-3 (Gayle 2-16)
Maybe Gayle was unwise to rile up Rilee Rossouw. He swats Sammy for back to back fours in the next over to get the Proteas back on the front foot.
SA 160-3
Chris Gayle is loving life at the moment. Running to retrieve the ball he barges into Rossouw then fixes his opponent with an angry stare. Moments later his face collapses into laughter. Rossouw looks utterly bemused.
Approaching milestones
Andrew Samson
BBC Test Match Special statistician
SA 153-3 (De Villiers 6, Rossouw 2)
Rilee Rossouw - drafted in for JP Duminy today - is a 25-year-old left-hander playing his 15th ODI. His strategy here seems to be to nudge the singles and give AB de V as much strike as possible. A wise head on young shoulders.
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Antony Stewart: Chris Gayle. Is there anything he can't do??
SA 147-3 (Sammy 0-32)
There I was thinking to myself that Amla and Du Plessis were treading a very similar path to Dilshan and Sangakkara yesterday, and in the blink of an eye they're both gone. Oh well, it's not all bad news for South Africa. AB De Villiers is in now, and he averages 253 against West Indies in World Cup cricket.
Scorecard update
South Africa 146-3 (30 overs)
Not out batsmen: De Villiers 1, Rossouw 1
Fall of wickets: 18-1 (De Kock 12), 145-2 (Du Plessis 62), 146-3 (Amla 65)
Bowling figures: Taylor 5-1-20-0, Holder 5-2-9-1, Russell 4-0-23-0, Samuels 2-0-14-0, Benn 7-0-37-0, Sammy 5-0-32-0, Gayle 2-0-10-2
South Africa won toss
Scorecard
Listen to Test Match Special commentary
WICKET
Amla lbw b Gayle 65 (SA 146-3)
Another one! Chris Gayle is the man with the Midas touch at the moment. He traps Amla slap bang in front of his middle peg and that is plum pie. Two wickets in three balls.
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Graeme Swann
Ex-England spinner on BBC Test Match Special
"It is an incredible reaction from the West Indies. Ramdin turned away with pain on his face, shaking his hand. I thought at first Du Plessis had hit Ramdin's hand with the bat. Chris Gayle was the only who jumped to celebrate the wicket. His heart-rate got above about 45."
WICKET
Du Plessis c Ramdin b Gayle 62 (SA 145-2)
Hang on - he's out. Du Plessis has a huge swing, gets an edge and the ball somehow lodges in the webbing of Ramdin's glove. The keeper looks amazed and stares at the ball in his hands, then belatedly celebrates. Wicket for Gayle. Du Plessis is gone.
SA 146-1
Cracking shot from Du Plessis, leaning back and spooning over extra cover for a one-bounce four. This is following a very similar pattern to the Sri Lanka innings yesterday...
SA 136-1 (Amla 64, Du Plessis 54)
Now then, time for Chris Gayle to turn his arm over a bit. I think he's a better bowler than people give him credit for. It's a gentle set of six and the South Africans are happy to tickle ones and twos.
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Graeme Swann
Ex-England spinner on BBC Test Match Special
"I don't really understand South Africa's reticence to score at all in the first 10. It was Test match style. Now they have changed it up and are scoring freely. I just think they have missed a trick and are 30 or 40 short of where they should be."
Du Plessis 50
SA 128-1
The batsmen had a chat between overs. I think it's time to move up yet another gear. Faf Du Plessis completes his fifty off 59 balls with a pull for four. Nine runs from the over. Lots and lots of batting to come remember.
SA 119-1 (Amla 59, Du Plessis 43)
Thank you Phil for that invigorating stint. I'm Sam Sheringham and I'll be seeing this innings to the end.
Hashim Amla's six was clearly a declaration of intent and he has another big swing at Benn and gets a thick outside edge for two. That's the 100 partnership between these two.
SA 112-1 (Du Plessis 39, Amla 56)
Darren Sammy brings the innings to its halfway point with his fourth over. It is an over that contains the innings' first six, which Amla smashes back down the ground to bring up his 50 (his 28th in ODIs). He adds to that with two from the last ball, via a chip to the leg side.
SA 102-1 (Amla 47, Du Plessis 38)
South Africa's 100 come sup courtesy of a flick through mid-on for one from Amla. The foundations continue to be laid by the South African pair in the form of five singles, the last of which came from an Amla smash down the track that almost takes his partner's head off at the non-striker's end.
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Barry Richards
Ex-South Africa batsman on BBC Test Match Special
"It's nip and tuck at the moment. it's almost like a boxing match with the two teams circling around it each. South Africa will be very pleased to have only lost one wicket, the West Indies will be happy to have kept the run rate down. It's going to be a good contest."
Post update
Kalika Mehta
BBC Sport in Sydney
"A couple of fours bring the crowd to their feet and the South African flags in the Bill O'Riley and the Victor Trumper are being waved furiously.
"The loudest cheer from this relatively paltry crowd thus far was reserved for Sulieman Benn when he used his foot to stop the ball from reaching the boundary. The pre-match football warm-up seems to have come to fruition for the towering West Indian."
SA 97-1 (Amla 44, Du Plessis 36)
Amla is battling hard and slashing the ball away for singles but his timing is not quite there. But as long as he is at the crease and keeping the runs coming (albeit slowly), South Africa are well-placed to accelerate later in the innings. They have plenty of firepower in the tent. Sammy's third over goes for three singles.
SA 94-1 (Amla 42, Du Plessis 35)
Benn concedes a couple of singles in his first two balls before almost sneaking through Du Plessis' defence with one that is just short of a length. Du Plessis responds by dancing down to the next and hammering one back at the bowler for a catching chance that beats him for pace and is dropped. That would have been a timely blow for the West Indies, who started superbly but could do with another wicket now.
Scorecard update
South Africa 90-1 (21 overs)
Not out batsmen: Amla 40, Du Plessis 33
Fall of wickets: 18-1 (De Kock 12)
Bowling figures: Taylor 5-1-20-0, Holder 5-2-9-1, Russell 4-0-23-0, Samuels 1-0-5-0, Benn 4-0-21-0, Sammy 2-0-10-0
South Africa won toss
Scorecard
Listen to Test Match Special commentary
90-1 (run-rate 4.28)
There is greater intent about Amla now, who is foiled by the fielder at mid-off with a flashing drive before a nudge to the leg side brings him one. Du Plessis quickly hands the strike back to his partner, but Sammy ties him up with a full, straight delivery.
SA 87-1 (Du Plessis 31, Amla 39)
A small committee meeting between the umpires and the West Indies captain ahead of the 20th over appears to be to discuss the state of the ball. Benn is handed it again and is worked around nicely by the SA pair for four singles.
SA 83-1 (Amla 37, Du Plessis 29)
South Africa may not be blasting boundaries with regularity but they are turning dot balls into singles and ones into twos now. It helps that these two are pretty pacey between the stumps. Darren Sammy is the new West Indies bowler and almost ends his over with a wicket by catching the outside edge of Du Plessis bat. No slip means South Africa pick up two more runs.
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Barry Richards
Ex-South Africa batsman on BBC Test Match Special
"The tide is turning just a little bit. I think Hashim Amla has made the decision to bat all the way through. There will come a stage where one of these batsmen will attack a lot more. They need to get a good foundation and set the scene for AB De Villiers."
SA 76-1 (Amla 33, Du Plessis 26)
The gangly figure of Benn ambles in for another over of spin and he catches the outside edge of Amla's bat with his fourth delivery but it is a thick enough one to take it past the keeper and down to third man for two. He then belts one to long-on to keep the strike.
SA (run-rate 4.23)
Andre Russell resumes with a bouncer that the umpire adjudges to be a wide. It is fair to say the bowler does not agree. Du Plessis drives one through mid-on for two before picking up another single with a steer from a short ball.
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Andrew Samson
BBC Test Match Special statistician
"South Africa's compulsory power play scores in this tournament: 28-2 v Zim, 38-1 v Ind, 30-1 today. Their average of 32 runs in the compulsory power plays is the lowest of any team in the tournament to date."
SA 68-1 (Du Plessis 22, Amla 30)
The South African pair have clearly decided now is the time to accelerate. Amla benefits from a short Benn ball, which he rocks back and cuts behind point to the boundary. The batsmen then rotate the strike effectively to keep the scoreboard ticking over before drinks. With wickets in the tent, this scratchy start can develop into something far more promising with a concerted period of positive batting from these two.
SA 58-1 (Amla 23, Du Plessis 19)
South Africa are back in the boundary game as Du Plessis latches on to a short one from Russell and pulls it to the midwicket boundary. Amla then looks to step up his own game with a slice through point for three.
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Kalika Mehta
BBC Sport in Sydney
"The West Indies fans are enjoying seeing their bowlers put the squeeze on Hashim Amla and Faf du Plessis; although I reckon they would be far livelier and louder if a a certain Christopher Henry Gayle was smashing the ball to all corners of the ground. For now the fans seem to be enjoying bathing in the sun and why wouldn't they, it's an absolutely gorgeous day."
SA 49-1 (Amla 19, Du Plessis 14)
Marlon Samuels lasts just one over as Sulieman Benn takes over spin duties for the West Indies. It is a good first over as well from the towering bowler, who goes for just a trio of singles.
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Ian Bishop
Ex-West Indies pace bowler on BBC Test Match Special
"When I woke up this morning it was raining and I was very worried we were in danger of a shortened game. It looks like a very difficult pitch on which to time the ball, or maybe the batsmen are just lacking confidence."
Post update
Kalika Mehta
BBC Sport in Sydney
"Compared the smouldering cacophony of sound the South Africans had to deal with at the MCG during their loss to India today's match is going along at a rather sedate pace, both on the pitch and in the stands.
"With the Sydney Cricket Ground hosting it's first match of this World Cup, it seems that perhaps the early morning downpour may have put off a number of fans with the ground only really 1/3 full at present."
SA 46-1 (Amla 17, Du Plessis 13)
Russell has a brief lapse from the accuracy of his first over but such is the mire South Africa are in at the moment, they are unable to fully capitalise. After clipping one round the corner for a couple, Amla is gifted a full ball outside off but doesn't connect properly and only gets two. Du Plessis then gets lucky with a top-edged pull that falls just short of Sulieman Benn, coming round from wide third man.
SA 39-1 (run-rate 3.20)
Marlon Samuels brings some spin to proceedings and Du Plessis tries to get his side going with an inventive attempted paddle shot that doesn't quite connect but brings him two runs before he clips one to deep square leg to give Amla a chance to add a run himself courtesy of punch down the ground.
SA 34-1 (Amla 10, Du Plessis 8)
West Indies' first bowling change sees the mohawk-sporting Andre Russell come into the attack. He picks up where Taylor left off with some tidy, disciplined stuff, with Du Plessis whipping the loosest ball of the lot - his last- through midwicket for two. We've not had a boundary since the fourth over.
Scorecard update
South Africa 30-1 (10 overs)
Not out batsmen: Amla 9, Du Plessis 5
Fall of wickets: 18-1 (De Kock 12)
Bowling figures: Taylor 5-1-20-0, Holder 5-2-9-1
South Africa won toss
Scorecard
Listen to Test Match Special commentary
SA 30-1 (Du Plessis 6, Amla 9)
If it ain't broke, don't fix it. Holder charges in again and, barring a very wide delivery that Du Plessis fails to capitalise on, rattles through another effective over that goes for just a single off the last. That is brilliant first 10 for the West Indies. The fact that Amla has nine from 25 balls tells its own story.
SA 29-1 (Du Plessis 5, Amla 9)
Amla does really well with two drives to pick out the fielders at point and then cover. A yard either side of each and he would have a couple of boundaries. Amla does eventually get a run with a pull down to backward square leg. Du Plessis adds another to the total with a drive to mid-off as SA continue their very gentle progress.
SA 27-1 (Amla 8, Du Plessis 4)
Another decent Holder over keeps the pressure on South Africa and new man Du Plessis in particular, who pulls to bring himself two but then has to be solid in defence to keep out a fullish delivery. Free-flowing attacking batting this is not.
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Antony Stewart: Really disciplined, dangerous start from the Windies. So promising.
SA 24-1 (Amla 7, Du Plessis 2)
Amla works Taylor around the circle to plunder three runs as South Africa look to consolidate after the loss of De Kock. Du Plessis gets off the mark with a checked drive through cover, which benefits from the pace of the outfield to bring him two.
SA 18-1 (Amla 4, Du Plessis 0)
Faf du Plessis is the new man and he sees out the rest of Holder's over - his second maiden of the innings and wicket one at that. Take a bow son.
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Graeme Swann
Ex-England spinner on BBC Test Match Special
"De Kock can't believe he's just got out to a big long-hop outside off stump. He has such a good record during his short time in the South African team, but he has to go."
WICKET
De Kock c Russell b Holder 12 (SA 18-1)
De Kock goes! He will be very disappointed with that dismissal. It is a gift to the West Indies as he wafts at a short one from Holder and gives an easy catch to Andre Russell at cover point. De Kock never looked entirely comfortable during his brief tenure at the crease.
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Jonathan Agnew
BBC Test Match Special
"I have rather mixed feelings sitting in this commentary box, the memories of last year's three-day Ashes thrashing still fresh."
SA 18-0 (De Kock 12, Amla 4)
Amla is finally away as Taylor over-pitches and the stylish right-hander thumps it down the ground for two before an inside edge through square leg brings him another couple. Taylor responds well to tie the bearded 31-year-old at the striker's end. West Indies know very well what Amla is capable of - his highest ODI score of 153* came against them this year in Johannesburg.
SA 14-0 (Amla 0, De Kock 12)
Holder's radar wavers as he slings one wide down leg to gift South Africa a run. It could have been worse but for an acrobatic diving stop from keeper Denesh Ramdin. Amla gets off strike, but not off the mark, courtesy of a leg bye. A huge slice of luck keeps De Kock at the crease as he inside edges a delivery just a few inches past his stumps. The ball undeservedly races away for four much to Holder's frustration.
22 runs off one ball
The SCG does hold happy World Cup memories for the South Africans.
Appearing at the tournament for the first time following the apartheid ban in 1992, the Proteas beat Australia, West Indies, Pakistan and India en route to the semi-finals. Their contest against England was bubbling up to boiling point when the rain - and the controversial rules - combined to produce the ultimate damp squib.
After a 12-minute rain delay, South Africa's target was adjusted from 22 runs off 13 balls to an impossible 22 off one, leaving the Proteas incensed and England embarrassed as they limped into the final.
Read more in 10 moments that shocked the World Cup.
SA 8-0 (Amla 0, De Kock 8)
There is a bit of understandable nervousness about this SA opening pair. They turn down a clear run to leg before De Kock wafts unsuccessfully at a short one from Taylor, who adds to his captain's maiden in the previous over with one of his own. This is an impressive start from the West Indies.
SA 8-0 (De Kock 8, Amla 0)
Jason Holder comes in from the Randwick End and causes Amla some serious problems with one that jags back off a length and right through a gap in the batsman's defence. It is the highlight of a superb maiden over from the Windies skipper.
SA 8-0 (Amla 0, De Kock 8)
A positive start for SA as De Kock cuts Taylor's second ball and watches as it races rapidly away and beats a diving fielder to the boundary. Three balls later he plays a checked drive and is rewarded with another boundary. This outfield has some real pace about it.
Post update
Quinton de Kock and Hashim Amla are the openers for South Africa. Jerome Taylor has the new cherry in his hand. Here we go...
How's stat?
Andrew Samson
BBC Test Match Special statistician
Post update
The teams are out on the pitch for the anthems. The West Indies players are, pretty much to a man, decked out in trendy shades. Not a pair of Ray-Bans* in sight on the South Africa team, who link arms in solidarity. They need every ounce of team spirit to claim a much-needed win today.
*Other makes of trendy shades are available.
Meet the teams
Statistics correct as of 12 February 2015.
Meet the teams
Statistics correct as of 12 February 2015.
Post update
Graeme Swann
Ex-England spinner on BBC Test Match Special
"South Africa have gone very quickly from one of the tournament favourites to not being spoken about a lot. That 'choke' word has risen its head again."
A word with the skippers
South Africa captain AB de Villiers: "We just want to play good cricket and win games. Luckily we have won the toss but you can't control certain things. Bat, bowl, you need to do both to win the World Cup. We have had some nice discussions and haven't hit many balls in the last two days. It wasn't our best performance against India, it was a bit embarrassing, but it is a long tournament and we have a chance to put that right."
West Indies captain Jason Holder: "It is a good wicket. I'm not disheartened to bowl first. Hopefully we will pick up some early wickets and put pressure on them."
Back to his best?
West Indies captain Jason Holder played down opener Chris Gayle's absence from training on Thursday. The Jamaican has been trying to manage a long-term back problem.
"In terms of Chris's fitness, obviously he's been struggling with his back. So we're trying to monitor him as best as we possibly can," Holder said.
South Africa skipper AB de Villiers joked: "He doesn't train often. I played with him in Bangalore, and you don't often see him in the nets. His body is quite old for his age, I think."
Gayle said earlier this week that he has had the back injury since January last year.
"It's the same injury. It can't seem to be solved, to be honest with you," he said. "It's a bit of a mind thing. I try and do a lot of massage. I'm a person that likes to go to the gym, and I've been restricted from that for a couple of months as well."
AB walking the tightrope
South Africa skipper AB de Villiers admits he is under pressure now that he is one slow over-rate infraction away from a suspension.
He was fined 20% of his match fee after the Proteas were ruled to be one over behind in their defeat by India, and faces a one-match ban for a repeat offence.
"I think all the captains are under pressure. They're a little bit more lenient with normal series around the world, but this tournament is under the spotlights - you get one warning and then you're suspended," he explained.
"The seamers need time. They need time to get the marks and get the fields right. And with those longer run-ups, they get tired. So it's understandable for a seamer to waste a bit more time, but the fielders have got to get the intensity up and obviously the part-time bowlers will have to help."
TMS
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Team news
No JP Duminy, no Vernon Philander and no Wayne Parnell for SA. Duminy has been struggling with injury ahead of the game, while Philander has a hamstring strain. It provides a chance for Kyle Abbott, Farhaan Behardien, Rilee Roussow in the starting XI.
Just the one change for West Indies as Nikita Miller is replaced by Suliemann Benn.
Today's teams
West Indies team: Chris Gayle, Dwayne Smith, Marlon Samuels, Jonathan Carter, Denesh Ramdin (wk), Lendl Simmons, Darren Sammy, Andre Russell, Jason Holder (capt), Jerome Taylor, Sulieman Benn.
South Africa team: Hashim Amla, Quinton de Kock, Faf Du Plessis, Rilee Russouw, AB de Villiers, David Miller, Farhaan Behardien, Kyle Abbott, Dale Steyn, Morne Morkel, Imran Tahir.
Expect fireworks
Before this tournament began, we asked you to select your all-time one-day XI. Sachin, Brian, Sir Viv, Shane, Wasim, they were all in there. You also opted to include two men who will be front and centre when South Africa take on the West Indies in Sydney today: Christopher Henry Gayle and Abraham Benjamin de Villiers.
The pair have 18,521 ODI runs between them going into this game, with Gayle smashing 215 of them in his side's last game against Zimbabwe. ABDV hasn't quite hit the heights he's capable of yet but surely it is only a matter of time. If both players bring their A game today we are in for a cracking game of cricket.
Toss
SA win the toss and bat first
AB de Villiers tosses the coin, heads is the call and it is a win for South Africa, who will be batting first.
WI v SA
Good morning. How are you all feeling? Bright as a button and ready for some more World Cup cricket? Of course you are.
Just the one game today, but it has the potential to be an absolute belter as West Indies take on South Africa in Sydney. It's the two-time winners against the perennial underachievers, second in the group against fourth, Chris Gayle against AB de Villiers. Better buckle yourself in.