Sydney: South Africa seamer Vernon Philander has been ruled out of Friday's key World Cup clash against the West Indies in Sydney after failing to recover from a hamstring injury.

Philander hobbled off the field after sending down just four overs in Sunday's 130-run loss to India in Melbourne. When he batted, he was dismissed for nought. "Vernon sustained a Grade 1 hamstring strain which was confirmed by the scans done in Sydney on Monday afternoon," Proteas team manager Mohammed Moosajee said Tuesday.