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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Quinton de Kock and Hashim Amla are the openers for South Africa. Jerome Taylor has the new cherry in his hand. Here we go...

Andrew Samson
BBC Test Match Special statistician

• 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).

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.

Statistics correct as of 12 February 2015.

Statistics correct as of 12 February 2015.

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."

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."

Image source, Getty Images

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."

Image source, Getty Images

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."

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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.

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.

Image source, Getty Images

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.

AB de Villiers tosses the coin, heads is the call and it is a win for South Africa, who will be batting first.

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.