Pollock bows out on a high

The tourists made life difficult for the Proteas, posting a highly competitive 295 for seven, and when the Johannesburg rain came with South Africa on 34 for one, it seemed Pollock was to be denied a fairytale ending.

However, play resumed and a swashbuckling century from Herschelle Gibbs took them close to their revised target of 211 from 31 overs, allowing Pollock to hit the winning runs.

Skipper Graeme Smith was the only South African to perish before the rain, bowled by Daren Powell for five in the third over.

Gibbs and Jacques Kallis were in situ when the heavens opened on 10 and 15 respectively.

But they did not let the break affect them and the pair were in imperious form when play finally resumed, putting together a sublime partnership of 175.

Each reached their half-century in 47 balls, before Gibbs took over. He needed just another 33 balls to reach three figures, smashing three sixes in the process.

But he attempted one shot too many off Powell, chipping the ball straight to Shivnarine Chanderpaul at cover when on 102. That brought Pollock to the middle, and he watched Kallis (74 not out) play some sublime strokes before enjoying his moment in the spotlight.

A classical drive from the retiring all-rounder brought the Proteas to within two runs of victory, which duly arrived when Pollock sliced the ball to third man to spark scenes of celebration.

Earlier, a brilliant 91 from 76 balls by Devon Smith helped the Windies post a creditable score. Smith shared a 137-run stand for the second wicket with Chanderpaul (51), while Patrick Browne contributed an unbeaten 49 in only his third ODI.