The tourists made 241 for four and restricted the home team to 229 for five in a 45-overs-a-side match played at mining magnate Oppenheimer's private ground midway between Johannesburg and Pretoria.

Ganga, expected to be in the team for the first Test which starts in Johannesburg on Friday week, did not play in the West Indian side during a five-match one-day series in Zimbabwe which ended Sunday. He was promoted to open the batting in his first innings in more than two weeks and hit 10 fours and a six in a 102-ball innings in benign batting conditions.

Shivnarine Chanderpaul was also moved up the order and made 53 off 72 balls in an opening stand of 87 with Ganga. But the fireworks were provided by tour captain Lara, who ceded the captaincy on the day to vice-captain Ramnaresh Sarwan. Batting at number five, Lara smashed an unbeaten 53 off 28 balls with four fours and four sixes.

The Oppenheimer team was captained by all-rounder Lance Klusener, bidding for a recall to the South African side after being dropped following South Africa's early elimination from the World Cup earlier this year. Klusener, the leading wicket-taker in South Africa's domestic first-class competition this season, bowled just four overs, conceding 18 runs.

Surprisingly, the hard-hitting Klusener did not bat but another left-hander, 18-year-old schoolboy Vaughn van Jaarsveld, gave the Oppenheimer team a glimpse of victory, hitting an unbeaten 49 off 35 balls. Van Jaarsveld hit five sixes, including four off off-spinner Omari Banks.

Although innings were limited to 45 overs, there were no fielding restrictions or limitations on the number of overs sent down by each bowler.

The West Indians start their first-class programme with a four-day match against Free State in Bloemfontein Friday.