WI v SA : Day 1

In his first Test as captain on home soil, Graeme Smith hammered a century against a lacklustre West Indian attack in perfect batting conditions at the New Wanderers Stadium today. Smith, eventually caught smartly by Lara off Edwards for 132, was in dominant form as he dispatched twenty-two (22) deliveries to the boundary while facing only 184 balls. Smith's was an imposing innings seemingly making a statement to his critics and to the visiting West Indians that he and South Africa mean business.

With Herschelle Gibbs, captain Smith brought up the first ever century opening stand between the two sides on the way to 149. At this point, Gibbs was looking to accelerate having effortlessly pulled Collymore over midwicket for six, but was dismissed in rather odd circumstances. Playing a forward-defensive shot, Gibbs (60) was bowled between bat and pad with the ball from Collymore just clipping the bails off. On the replay it was apparent that the ball was illegal - a noball.

Jacques Rudolph (2) came to the crease and looked in extremely poor form during his 12-ball stay before Drakes got him driving at a ball angled across him and Lara took a very good diving catch at first slip - 160/2. Rudolph's replacement, Kallis, looked as solid as ever in playing a supporting role to Smith, who continued to dispatch the tourist offerings with complete ease.

At this point, Lara looked all but desperate as he saw his bowling resources quickly drying up. Only Dillon looked in good shape for the better part of the day, with the rest of the seam bowlers lacking any real consistency and certainly lacking penetration. Earlier, in the 31st over of play, Chris Gayle, in severe pain, had to be carried of the field, taking away a likely spin option. Instead, Lara had to turn to Sarwan (2-0-7-0) and Ganga (4-0-26-0) to provide the part-time spin. It was later reported that Gayle's suspected injury is a hamstring pull, which may well have him joining Omari Banks, Marlon Samuels and Jerome Taylor with a tour ending injury.

Meanwhile the on-field rampage continued. It took 147 balls for Smith to reach his hundred and upon getting it, he hit a further five (5) boundaries in his next 37 balls before flashing with a distinct lack of footwork at a wide delivery from young Edwards. For the most part, Edwards struggled to land the ball consistently, but he kept his pace up and kept running in with purpose and determination. His reward set the score at 240/3 with Martin van Jaarsveld - Gary Kirsten's replacement - making his way to do battle.

Kallis and van Jaarsveld endured a few tight overs of negative bowling from Wavell Hinds in particular before blossoming late in the final session with a flurry of boundaries. South Africa's resident rock, Kallis reached his half-century from 105 balls with five (5) fours and one (1) six, while van Jaarsveld took 74 balls for his milestone (10 fours).

Ultimately, after two attempts (one was a noball), Vasbert Drakes put the West Indies temporarily out of their misery by bowling the final ball of the day's play with South Africa large and in charge at 368/3. To date, Kallis and van Jaarsveld have added 128 runs from 32.3 overs. Kallis will resume tomorrow 13 runs short of his twelfth (12th) Test match century and his second against the West Indies. His partner, van Jaarsveld at 69 not out is on his highest Test score to date, passing his 39 not out scored against Bangladesh on debut. The current stand is the new highest for the fourth wicket at Wanderers in Test cricket.

Match Summary:
South Africa 1st innings 368/3 (90 overs)
(GC Smith 132, JH Kallis 87 not out, M van Jaarsveld 69 not out, HH Gibbs 60)
(VC Drakes 1/70, FH Edwards 1/78, CD Collymore 1/88)

Posted by Liam