Powell was in inspired form Photos from the match

South Africa have been given a World Cup lifeline after the West Indies' game against Bangladesh was called off because of rain.

The Windies, hot favourites to win the match, were robbed of two points when the match was abandoned at 1500 GMT.

Group B hangs in balance

The result means the South Africans, who were relying on Pool B rivals to slip up after their disastrous start to the tournament, can make the Super Six stage if they win their three remaining group matches.

Hooper stays calm

Chasing 245 for victory, Bangladesh, whose highest score in this World Cup had been 124 against Sri Lanka, were reduced to 31-2 in the ninth over when the players were called off.

Ricardo Powell was the pick of the Windies batsmen, smashing a stunning half-century off 30 balls, while Brian Lara impressed with his 46.

But the majority of the Caribbean batsmen struggled to come to terms with an often wayward opposition attack.

The Bangladeshis were let down by a series of no balls and wides - conceding a total of 27 extras.

Bangladesh had some prized wickets to celebrate

Despite that, they got off to a great start when out-of-sorts opener Chris Gayle was out for duck.

Manjural Islam was gifted Gayle's wicket, the Windies opener scooping the ball into the hands of Sanwar Hossain.

But Wavell Hinds was unlucky to join him in the pavilion after edging Khaled Mahmud to Al-Sahariar. Television replays showed a blatant no ball.

Hinds' departure with the score on 40 saw Shivnarine Chanderpaul join Lara at the crease and the pair produced a series of intelligent strokes to put on 68 for the third wicket.

Haque attack

Chanderpaul was the first to fall of the pair, trapped lbw by a rapid in-swinger from Ehsanul Haque.

Despite his departure, Lara still looked on course for his 49th half-century in one-day international cricket before he was caught by Al-Sahariar when trying to drive Ehsanul to the boundary.

Ramnaresh Sarwan found himself back in the pavilion before making an impact, but Powell joined the fray in dramatic fashion.

Photos from the match

He unleashed a series of massive boundaries, including four sixes, to restore some pride for the West Indians, who had been 158 for five.

He was ably assisted by Hooper (45), who picked at the Bangladeshi bowlers before being caught and bowled by Alok Kapali.

The Windies dropped a series of catches as Bangladesh launched their run chase.

Gayle, who was guilty of an early spill, then took a low catch to remove Al-Sahariar off Vasbert Drakes' bowling. Mervyn Dillon followed up the next ball, bowling Ehsanul.

West Indies: Carl Hooper (captain), Chris Gayle, Wavell Hinds, Brian Lara, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Ramnaresh Sarwan, Ricardo Powell, Ridley Jacobs, Vasbert Drakes, Mervyn Dillon, Corey Collymore.