Scores: (West Indies 278-5 (50 overs) beat South Africa 275-9 (49 overs) by three runs). The batsman lit up a clash, which set a glittering precedent for the remaining 53 games to follow.

Lara's 116, his 16th ton in one-day internationals, catapulted the Caribbean side to 278 for five after they won the toss.

West Indies looked the likely winners throughout South Africa's run-chase but were pushed all the way by Lance Klusener, who sparked a fightback from 160 for six.

Klusener's 57 off 38 balls revived memories of the 1999 World Cup, where he was man-of-the-tournament.

But he fell in the final over - the 49th after a slow over rate in West Indies innings - to leave his side agonisingly short.

Klusener's fireworks provided a nail-biting climax, but the Windies were fitting victors after Lara had put them on the right track.

His best World Cup score included 12 boundaries and two sixes and got the Windies out of a hole after they slumped to seven for two early on.

After the boost of winning the toss, the Windies emerged listless against a fired-up South African attack led by skipper Shaun Pollock.

The first three overs were maidens and matters looked even worse for West Indies when Pollock removed openers Wavell Hinds and Chris Gayle.

The Windies were gifted a priceless piece of luck when Lara, who had not played since September last year after falling ill, was dropped by Jacques Kallis first ball.

Twelve overs had passed before the first boundary was scored and West Indies were just 30 for two after the first 16.

It was not until veteran paceman Allan Donald, whose nine wicket-less overs went for 54, came into the attack that runs began to flow.

Shivnarine Chanderpaul was content in playing second fiddle to Lara, but his 60-ball 34 came to an end when Klusener had him caught behind.

Captain Carl Hooper picked up where Chanderpaul left off, supporting Lara until he was removed by Ntini for 40.

Lara followed soon after when spooning to Pollock, but Ricardo Powell and Ramnaresh Sarwan capped an amazing revival with an unbeaten stand of 63 off 27 balls at the death.

Merv Dillon was rewarded for a good opening spell, making a timely breakthrough to remove Herschelle Gibbs after South Africa had raced to 46 in the ninth over.

The dismissal, Dillon's 100th in one-dayers, visibly deflated the hosts.

Boeta Dippenaar, Jacques Kallis and Jonty Rhodes all fell after making little impression, leaving South Africa paddling at 117 for four.

Opener Gary Kirsten (69) and Mark Boucher (49) threatened to take the game away from West Indies, but neither scored quickly enough.

When both fell the task was left to Klusener, who brought the partisan crowd to voice but failed to give South Africa a dream start to their World Cup campaign. (BBC Sport).

WEST INDIES innings
C.Gayle b Pollock 2
W.Hinds c wkp Boucher b Pollock 0
B.Lara c Pollock b Ntini 116
S.Chanderpaul c wkp. Boucher b Klusener 34
*C.Hooper c Kallis b Ntini 40
R.Powell not out 40
R.Sarwan not out 32
Extras: (lb-6, w-4, nb-4) 14
Total: (for 5 wickets - 50 overs) 278
Fall of wickets: 1-4, 2-7, 3-109, 4-198, 5-215.
Bowling: Pollock 10-2-52-2 (nb-1), Ntini 10-1-37-2 (w-2), Donald 9-0-54-0 (nb-1, w-1), Kallis 10-2-52-0, Klusener 8-0-53-1 (nb-2), Boje 3-0-24-0.

SOUTH AFRICA innings
H.Gibbs c wkp. Jacobs b Dillon 24
G.Kirsten c & b Dillon 69
B.Dippenaaar stp. Jacobs b Hooper 20
J.Kallis c stp. Jacobs b Collins 13
J.Rhodes b Hooper 2
+M.Boucher b Gayle 49
*S.Pollock c Hooper b Gayle 4
L.Klusener c Hooper b Drakes 57
N.Boje not out 25
M.Ntini c Sarwan b Drakes 0
A.Donald not out 0
Extras: (lb-4, w-5, nb-3) 12
Total: (9 wickets - 49 overs) 275
Fall of wickets: 1-46, 2-79, 3-104, 4-117, 5-155, 6-160, 7-204, 8-271, 9-271.

Bowling: Mervyn Dillon 10-0-47-2 (w-1), Collins 9-0-54-1 (nb-1, w-1), Drakes 8-1-33-2 (nb-1), Hooper 10-0-63-2 (nb-1), Gayle 10-1-60-2 (w-2), Powell 2-0-14-0 (w-1).

Hooper applauds 'class' Lara
JUBILANT skipper Carl Hooper said Brian Lara reminded the world of his undoubted class with a match-winning century in the opening game of the World Cup.

Lara had not played any international cricket since falling ill in the ICC Champions Trophy in September last year.

But the left-hander belied his absence from the game to earn man-of-the-match honours in a pulsating affair.

"Brian showed what a world class player he is," Hooper said.

Batting first, West Indies looked badly out of sorts as they limped to 30 for two after 16 overs.

And Lara was dropped first ball before settling into stride and playing a classic one-day knock.

"The first 10-15 overs was tough but then Brian came in and showed what a tremendous player he is," Hooper said.

The Windies were on top throughout South Africa's run-chase, but Lance Klusener looked primed to punish their decision to go into the game with just three specialist bowlers.

Hooper said he feared defeat while Klusener was still at the crease.

"I've seen Lance Klusener do this before, he's capable of turning the game on his head."

But the man of the 1999 World Cup was removed in the final over, handing a deserved win to the Windies.

A relieved Hooper reflected on "a great game, great wicket - a great game of cricket". (BBC Sport).

Pollock rues late wickets
SOUTH Africa captain Shaun Pollock praised the Windies' batting display after their nail-biting three-run win in the opening match of the World Cup.

Pollock said the game could have gone either way but the West Indies' finishing was much stronger.

They hit a magnificent 278-5 in their 50 overs, which included 116 from Brian Lara.

In reply, South Africa fell just short despite a barnstorming 57 off 38 balls from Lance Klusener.

Pollock said: "It all started off pretty well.

"In the first 10 overs of the day we restricted them but the difference was the way they finished off their innings.

"We lost two wickets in the final over, it could have gone either way."

He offered no defence regarding the slow over-rate which cost South Africa an over, and ultimately the game.

Pollock said: "It was a matter of seconds but we knew the rules and we knew we could do nothing about it."