West Indies cricket captain Carl Hooper overcame perhaps one of the biggest challenges in his World Cup campaign even before the tournament began.

He convinced Chairman of Selectors Sir Viv Richards - known to be very strong-minded - to let him continue choosing an unusual combination for the West Indies One-Day line-up: seven batsmen, a wicketkeeper and just three front-line bowlers.

It's a formula the regional side have employed successfully since last June's One-Day home series against New Zealand. It worked in tours to India and Bangladesh late last year - and produced the goods again in Sunday's winning three-run thriller against hosts South Africa.

"It's often best to let the captain have his way," acknowledged Richards, who is in South Africa, in a radio interview during the match.

Opting to bat first, the West Indies rallied admirably from 49 for two after 20 overs to 278 for five in 50 overs, on the crest of a scintillating 116 from a resurgent Brian Lara. Solid contributions by Shivnarine Chanderpaul and Hooper before an awesome finale of 63 off 28 balls between Ricardo Powell and Ramnaresh Sarwan gave the Caribbean team just enough runs.

Speaking after the victory in Cape Town, Hooper made it clear he would persist with extra-strong batting "until we get ourselves into serious trouble".

"This is the make-up we've been using for the past six to eight months and it's been working for us - three front-line bowlers and Chris (Gayle), Marlon Samuels, Ricardo Powell, Wavell Hinds and myself doing the rest," he said.

However, there is room for change in special circumstances, he added.

"If, for argument's sake, we see the pitch is a green seamer, we'd probably contemplate playing the extra bowler but, all things being equal, that is the way we will go."

The problem for Hooper and his co-selectors at present is an embarrassment of batting riches.

Samuels' clear cut class and recent record should make him an automatic choice in the batting order. Yet Powell's breath-taking unbeaten 40 off 18 deliveries on Sunday - and his athletic fielding in the key positions behind point and square-leg - have guaranteed him his place.

Discarded by the previous selectors for his inconsistency, Powell was recalled by the Richards panel last September and has responded by tempering his extravagant strokeplay.

In India and Bangladesh and now here, his methods have become more orthodox but no less effective.

Sarwan is developing into the West Indies equivalent of Australian Michael Bevan, regarded as the best "finisher" over the closing overs in the limiting overs game.

In India, the 22-year-old Guyanese was unbeaten on 83, 39 and 88 in three of his seven innings and 102 in his second of three in Bangladesh. On Sunday, he scored 32 off 15 balls, with a couple of thumping sixes.

Hooper said Sunday's triumph was just the beginning his team needed in the World Cup.

"It sets up the tournament for us in that we're off to a good start. The manner in which we came back - after the start we had - to make 270-odd was really great. It's brought a lot of confidence in the side."

The only likely change ahead of tomorrow's match against New Zealand would be Pedro Collins who, despite taking the prized scalp of Jacques Kallis, had an indifferent showing on Sunday.

He conceded 54 runs in nine overs and carelessly stepped back on the boundary after catching the rampant Lance Klusener off Chris Gayle to almost thwart a West Indian victory.

More success tomorrow would almost certainly put Hooper's team into the Super Sixes but it will not be easy. The Kiwis, who have already forfeited their match against Kenya through security fears, will be desperate to rebound from an opening defeat by Sri Lanka on Monday.