Durban, Jan 17 (IANS): The West Indies failed to negotiate a tricky run chase and lost the rain-hit opening One-day International (ODI) against South Africa by 61 runs under the Duckworth/Lewis method here.

Needing to score at nearly seven runs an over to get a revised target of 229 off 33 overs, the West Indies faltered after an enterprising 51-run opening stand, to slump to 164 off 28.2 overs at Kingsmead Friday night, reports CMC.

Shotgun opener Chris Gayle blasted a typically swift top score of 41 off 24 deliveries, Denesh Ramdin hit 31 from 32 balls and Gayle’s opening partner Dwayne Smith chipped in with 29 off 38 balls, but the Caribbean side lost their last nine wickets for 113 runs.

Fast bowler Vernon Philander was South Africa’s leading bowler with three for 44 while leg-spinner Imran Tahir picked up two for 22.

Rain had earlier stymied South Africa’s efforts to reach the 300-run mark, ending the innings on 279 for eight off 48.2 overs.

Captain AB de Villiers top scored with 81 off 94 balls, while David Miller, with 70 off 68 and opener Hashim Amla, with a run-a-ball 66, chipped in with half-centuries.

The Proteas were reeling at 16 for two in the fifth over before de Villiers anchored two excellent stands to pull the innings around.

He put on 99 for the third wicket with Amla and added a further 123 with Miller for the fourth wicket.

Rollicking along at 238 for three in the 40th over, South Africa seemed on course for well beyond 300 but the West Indies pulled the scoring back to limit the hosts to just 37 runs from the next nine overs.

Captain Jason Holder rotated his bowlers well down the stretch, and South Africa lost five wickets for 61 runs, including the wickets for Miller and de Villiers who had earlier punished them.

Fast bowler Jerome Taylor grabbed two for 50 and fellow seamer Andre Russell, two for 51.