JP Duminy [ Images ] scored a career-best 79 not out to guide South Africa [ Images ] to a six-wicket victory over West Indies [ Images ] in Centurion on Sunday in the first game of their five-match one-day series.

South Africa won with 12 balls to spare after scoring 176 for four in reply to West Indies' total of 175. Rain reduced the match to 36 overs a side.

Duminy's score bettered the 60 he made against Zimbabwe in Bloemfontein last season.

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Seamer Shaun Pollock [ Images ] led South Africa's efficient bowling performance with a return of 1-19 from seven overs as West Indies, who were put into bat, were dismissed with a ball remaining in their innings.

South Africa wasted a chance to dismiss Sammy for 23 when substitute fielder Johan Botha [ Images ] dropped a catch at long-on after the batsman had lofted a full toss from paceman Albie Morkel [ Images ].

Runako Morton, who scored 41, shared 69 runs with Sammy for the seventh wicket after West Indies had slumped to 81-6 in the 22nd over.

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The stand was broken in the 34th over when Morton was run out by Pollock's hard, flat throw from long-on to wicketkeeper Mark Boucher [ Images ].

West Indies endured an abysmal final over when Ravi Rampaul (2) and Sammy were run out, and Daren Powell [ Images ] (0) was bowled off his pads by fast bowler Dale Steyn [ Images ].

ARTHUR TRIBUTE

South Africa lost openers Graeme Smith [ Images ] (1) and AB de Villiers [ Images ] (2) with just four runs on the board, but Jacques Kallis [ Images ] and Duminy steadied the innings with a partnership of 55.

Fast bowler Rampaul ended the stand in the 16th over when he had Kallis caught behind by wicketkeeper Denesh Ramdin [ Images ] for 24.

Duminy and Justin Ontong put on 59 for the fourth wicket before medium pacer Dwayne Bravo [ Images ] dived to take a return catch to dismiss Ontong for 23.

Boucher (26 not out) and Duminy took South Africa to victory with an unbroken stand of 58.

"The stand-out feature of JP's knock was the way he controlled the innings," coach Mickey Arthur told a news conference. "The calmness and maturity JP and Justin showed in that partnership was brilliant."

Duminy said: "The younger players have to take some responsibility. It doesn't mean just because we have a long batting order we should pass the buck."

South Africa captain Graeme Smith spend much of the match off the field after injuring his knee while fielding.

"He's in a lot of pain and he has received treatment, but we'll only know the extent of the injury tomorrow," Arthur said.