Dippenaar - led South Africa fightback (Getty Images)

By Brenden Nel, PA International, East London

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South Africa were given a reasonable workout ahead of their crucial World Cup clash with Sri Lanka as they laboured to a 118-run win over Canada on Thursday.

The Proteas were subdued for most of their innings of 254 for eight at Buffalo Park and were then frustrated by some obdurate Canadian batting as the minnows finished on 135 for five in reply.

The Canadians never looked capable for chasing South Africa's total but seemed perfectly content to bat out the overs.

Canada were ultimately defeated heavily but it would have been even more emphatic were it not for a poor display of fielding from the home side.

Shaun Pollock's side dropped no less than five catches, all of which should have been held.

Opener Ishwar Maraj was the main beneficiary of South Africa's lacklustre performance, being dropped for times as he carried his bat for a painstaking unbeaten 53. Wicketkeeper Ashish Bagai was also unbeaten on 28 when the overs ran out.

South Africa had looked like running through the order as Makhaya Ntini struck early to remove John Davison and Pollock claimed Desmond Chumney to leave the North Americans reeling on eight for two.

But then the Proteas' fielding then took a turn for the worst as first Maraj was dropped by Boeta Dippenaar at third slip and Allan Donald misfielded on the boundary and the ball went for four.

Then Maraj got away with another one as Graeme Smith and Jacques Kallis got in each other's way in the slips to fumble a chance off Pollock and Herschelle Gibbs, normally safe in the field, put down Ian Billcliff.

It was left to home favourite Monde Zondeki to bowl Billcliff with his first ball before Mark Boucher held an edge off Nicholas de Groot. But Boucher two was not immune to fielding errors and twice put down Maraj on 31 and 33.

Earlier South Africa had recovered from a shaky start to post their winning total.

Paceman Ashish Patel removed Gibbs and Kallis in an amazing opening spell on his international debut and eventually finished with three for 41.

But opener Graeme Smith (63) and Dippenaar (80) stabilised the innings and some powerful late blows by captain Shaun Pollock (32), Andrew Hall (22no) and Ntini (14) ensured they set up a good target for their all-pace attack to bowl at.