WI v SA : Day 4

A late burst from Makhaya Ntini put South Africa in total control of the first Test match against the touring West Indies team. Ntini grabbed 3 wickets in the space of 15 balls to leave the tourists at 31/3 chasing 378 to win with a day remaining in the game.

The West Indies started the day at 368/6, having avoided the follow-on, but searching for a further 193 runs to draw level with South Africa. Lara resumed on 178 after his record-breaking onslaught the day before, he stood in search of his sixth career score of 200+ and his second of 2003. He and Mervyn Dillon added a further 12 runs to the overnight total, before Dillon (13) was bowled by Ntini, the first of 5 wickets on the day for him.

Despite his hamstring injury, Chris Gayle came out to bat and hit a couple of fours before Ntini had him caught by Kallis for 8. Lara reached his double century, facing 273 balls in the process, but was dismissed attempting to hit out at the next delivery, caught by van Jaarsveld for a brilliant 202. The performance was laced with 32 fours and 2 sixes and took over 7 hours to compile.

A run later, Edwards was dismissed for a duck by Nel and the innings closed at 410 all out. Ntini bowled superbly on a batsman's wicket and was rewarded with 5/94 from his 32 overs. Nel supported him well with 3/78.

South Africa then came out to expectedly bat aggressively, having already attained a big 151-run lead on first innings. Smith looked to have intent of scoring, but Gibbs looked the opposite. Eventually Gibbs tried to cut loose with a hook shot against a sharp Drakes bouncer, but missed the shot and had his nose shattered by the subsequent impact. The ball managed to sneak in between the grille and visor on Gibbs' helmet and, after being attended to on-field for a brief break in play, he decided to retire hurt for 6.

New batsman, Rudolph had everything to play for, being in very poor batting form and fighting to retain his place for the second Test upon the return of Gary Kirsten. This pressure to succeed brought a measure on tentativeness into Rudolph's game as he didn't look particularly attacking. At the other end, however, Smith played with freedom and got to 44 with 7 boundaries before slashing a ball to substitute fielder, the uncapped Dwayne Smith - 72/1.

Kallis and Rudolph came together and continued the relative stalemate, neither looking for quick runs. With the arrival of Rudolph to the crease, Edwards had been recalled to the bowling crease and managed to produce the ball of the day (if not the Test) in the midst of a quick, aggressive spell. The delivery pitched short of a length at very respectable pace and followed Kallis who tried to duck away, it then deflected off his glove and sent Lara running back from his position at slip in a futile attempt to catch it. That was basically the highlight of a fruitless day for Edwards - 0/60.

The defensive tactics continued until tea, but upon resumption, with 41 overs remaining in the day's play, the aggression finally arrived. Rudolph strung together a couple of well executed shots with the pick of them being a straight hit off Hinds just short of a six. Kallis too looked in sharp form, pulling for a boundary and then for a six in moving to 44 before Wavell Hinds had him adjudged LBW - 145/2.

Wicketkeeper-batsman, Mark Boucher earned a promotion to raise the run rate and looked good immediately. He lost Rudolph (44) to a horizontal slash straight to Sarwan at point but continued to bat nicely with van Jaarsveld before he was stumped on the second attempt by Ridley Jacobs for 18, after he charged down the track to Sarwan's leg-spin. An over later van Jaarsveld was run out to a direct hit from the same, Sarwan. He made 15 and his departure left the score at 188/5 and the lead at 339. Collymore, in the midst of a top class spell of bowling cleaned up Pollock for 10 by bowling him through the gate. This was to prove the last but of joy for the West Indians on the day.

Robin Peterson (18 not out) executed a couple of fine shots and he and Neil McKenzie (9 not out) added 20 runs before the South African declaration came at 226/6. Hinds was once again the most successful bowler, with 2/55 on this occasion, but Collymore (1/19), Drakes (1/21) and Sarwan (1/41) were also quite useful.

The West Indies now took the crease with 10 overs to survive and a target of 378. There were few worries early on, before Ntini produced a quick delivery from nowhere, which succeeded in plucking out Wavell Hinds' off stump before he had scored - 5/1. Nightwatchman Drakes entered the competition in hope of seeing off the 35 remaining balls in the day. With a lovely drive down the ground for a boundary, followed by an equally correct square drive for two, Drakes looked in good shape to complete his job with few worries. However, once again seemingly from nowhere, Ntini nipped a ball back in to him and knocked back the off-stump for the second time. Now with Drakes gone for 6, the West Indies struggled at 18/2.

These early successes brought Lara to the crease far earlier than he would have cared to be. A couple of balls into his innings, Ntini produced a one which went straight through the defence of the West Indian captain and through to the 'keeper. This acted as a very real sign of the intent and potential of Ntini at such a late stage in the day.

To cap off a fantastic day with the ball, Ntini struck one more time by trapping Ganga LBW for 10 - 25/3 - a decision which seemed to initially present some doubt regarding a possible inside edge.

Sarwan drove past midoff for a lovely boundary as he and Lara now stand a partnership as one of the last hopes for the West Indies. Lara is yet to get off the mark and Sarwan has 6.

Ntini's 5 overs included a couple of maidens and saw him take a deserved 3/12. On the day (four), he claimed 5 wickets for 34 runs and will no doubt be hyped to complete his ten-wicket haul on the fifth day.

The West Indian score of 31/3, means that they will require a further 347 runs to win on day five. At this stage a draw looks more likely than a win, and if Lara is to be dismissed relatively cheaply tomorrow, a team may be celebrating yet.

Match Summary:
South Africa 1st innings 561 ao (148.4 overs)
(JH Kallis 158, GC Smith 132, M van Jaarsveld 73, HH Gibbs 60)
(WW Hinds 3/79, M Dillon 2/96, FH Edwards 2/102, CD Collymore 2/118)
West Indies 1st innings 410 ao (133.5 overs)
(BC Lara 202, D Ganga 61, S Chanderpaul 34)
(M Ntini 5/94, A Nel 3/78)
South Africa 2nd innings 226/6 (63 overs)
(GC Smith/JA Rudolph/JH Kallis 44)
(WW Hinds 2/55, CD Collymore 1/19, VC Drakes 1/21)
West Indies 2nd innings - Target:- 378 - 31/3 (10 overs)
(D Ganga 10, RR Sarwan 6 not out, VC Drakes 6)
(M Ntini 3/12)

Posted by Liam