Leisurely matches designed as a combination of practice and public relations for the visiting team, as well as an ego boost for the wealthy benefactors who stage them, are rare in these days of concentrated cricket tours.

They are to be enjoyed, and exploited, for what they are and the West Indies did both in the One-day opener to their South African tour yesterday.

But the fact that they won a fixture sponsored by and against a team under the name of Nicky Oppenheimer, head of South Africa's giant mining company, by 12 runs was neither here nor there in the context of what is to follow over the coming two months.

The impression they created and the early experience of South African conditions and opposition were more significant.

Although the overs were restricted, everything else was played as normal cricket; there were no bowling or field limitations, no strict wide calls.

Brian Lara was the player the 2,000 or so spectators, spread out in hospitality tents and on the grass embankments, had come to see. The lefthander obliged with a delightful, unbeaten 53 off 28 balls with four sixes and four fours that carried the West Indies to 240 for four from their 45 overs.

Allowing his vice-captain, Ramnaresh Sarwan, to lead the team for the day, Lara then spent much of the time during the local team's reply of 229 for five on the boundary's edge, signing hundreds of autographs for excited youngsters. It was an example followed by several others.

The last time the West Indies were scheduled for this match, five years ago, they were in London on strike.

It meant Oppenheimer had to cancel the lobster, caviar, champagne and other delights with which he entertains his guests and abandon the day.

That disastrous tour and the circumstances that led to it still rankles in South Africa. The perceptible change in attitude of the present team, captain Lara's especially, helps put right the West Indies' image.

Daren Ganga top scored with 70 from 103 balls, sharing an opening stand of 87 with Shivnarine Chanderpaul who compiled 53 from 72 balls.

Yet the batting that suggested the arrival of a special talent came in the opposition innings, from Vaughan Van Jaarsveld.

An 18-year-old schoolboy lefthander from an impoverished Afrikaans background, stroked five effortless sixes in an unbeaten 49 off 35 balls that kept his team in contention until 26 were required off the last over, bowled by Omari Banks.

Although Van Jaarsveld smote his longest six into the pavilion scattering Oppenheimer's well-heeled guests, the equation was beyond him.

Yet his is a name to remember. He has had a few matches for Gauteng, but his potential was enough to attract the national selectors for this match.

They are likely to be calling on him again soon and several times over in the coming 20 years or so.