Fitting farewell for Pollock

Shaun Pollock laps up all the applause from the appreciative Durban crowd © Getty Images

Buy this photo

Retiring hometown hero Shaun Pollock hit the winning runs in his last international match at Kingsmead in Durban as South Africa cruised to a five-wicket victory over West Indies.

The 34-year-old all-rounder, playing his penultimate international before retiring, sent a full toss from Dwayne Bravo to the boundary to ease the hosts past their victory target to go 4-0 up in the five-match series.

After winning the toss and opting to bat, Jerome Taylor smashed a quickfire 43 to help West Indies recover from a middle-order collapse and post 263 for nine.

AB de Villiers led the Proteas' response with a blistering 77 from 86 balls while captain Graeme Smith hit an aggressive 50 before Pollock finished off the job.

The Windies had a chance to remove Smith with the second ball of the South Africa innings, but Devon Smith could not hold a catch at second slip off the bowling of Taylor.

Graeme Smith bludgeons a half-century © Getty Images

Buy this photo

Smith went on to smash his third half-century of the series - his 35th in ODIs - before being caught next ball by Shivnarine Chanderpaul at short mid-wicket off Darren Sammy with the total on 77.

Jacques Kallis contributed just one before getting an outside edge to Sammy at point off the bowling of Fidel Edwards, and then opener Herschelle Gibbs got an inside edge in Dwayne Bravo's first over and dragged onto his leg stump for 39.

Bravo had brought himself on to bowl despite a side strain, but was unable to stem the steady flow of runs as South Africa continued their advance to victory.

The skipper did make the next breakthrough when JP Duminy miscued and was caught by Taylor at mid-on for 44. Duminy's dismissal in the 39th over brought Pollock to the crease with the hosts on 218 for four.

De Villiers passed 2,000 ODI runs on his way to 77 before finding Bravo at mid-wicket off the bowling of Daren Powell.

But Pollock and Mark Boucher saw the South Africans home with more than two overs to spare. Both finished on 21 not out, with Pollock hitting a four off Bravo to conclude matters.

An emotional Pollock left the field to a standing ovation and will now head into his final international match on Sunday looking to help his team complete a 5-0 series whitewash.