KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (CMC):

South Africa used Riley Roussouw's unbeaten half century and a strong all-round performance to beat West Indies by three wickets in their crucial first-round Under-19 Cricket World Cup match yesterday.

Choosing to bat in the Group B fixture at the Kinrara Academy Oval yesterday, West Indies compiled 222 for eight off their 50 overs and South Africa replied with 223 for seven off 43.5 overs, with Roussouw on 58 not out at the end.

The result vaulted South Africa to joint top of the group standings with India, leaving the Caribbean side under pressure now to win their next two games to advance.

Solid start

"South Africa played better cricket," West Indies captain Shamarh Brooks said after the game. "From this morning their pacers really bowled a good line and length and their batting stuck in."

The West Indies innings fluctuated considerably with a solid start, followed by a middle order collapse, then a flourish near the end. The attacking Nevisian left-hander Kieron Powell smashed a half century and shared in a 65-run opening stand with Adrian Barath (19). The 17-year-old Powell belted 53 off 50 balls with nine fours and a huge six over long-off.

Andre Creary struggled for 17 off 51 balls before he was run-out and it took a positive seventh-wicket partnership between wicket-keeper/batsman Devon Thomas and Shacoya Thomas to drag the Caribbean side out of their slump. The Antiguan Devon Thomas lashed 53 off 57 balls with six fours and a six and Jamaican Shacaya Thomas carved out a fighting 40 off 63 balls with two fours and two sixes as they lifted the score past the 200-mark and boosted the run-rate with a scoring pace of almost six an over.