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WI v SA - 3rd Test - Day 2

Sunday, January 4 2004

Like on day one, the West Indies once again fought back into contention after a mediocre bowling effort for the earlier part of the day. Attempting to capitalize on a late spurt of wickets on day one, the West Indian bowlers charged in with purpose in the early part of play. Reward came soon as Pollock (9) was caught behind off a charged up Edwards with the score improving by only 7 runs from overnight to 315/7.

Soon after Edwards almost struck again after knocking back Boucher's offstump on 15, only to look back with the horror of seeing a noball being signalled. Later he was dropped by Baugh on 59. Boucher certainly capitalized on his chances with some delectable straight drives and a very aggressive approach to his batting. When Pollock was out, Kallis returned to partner Boucher and the two looked at total ease against the West Indian bowling.

Finally Sanford brought the breakthrough with the score on 461 and Kallis eighth out for 73. Boucher reached his hundred from 151 balls and 17 fours and he ended unbeaten on 122 with 21 fours. Sanford (4/132) proved statistically the best West Indian bowler with Edwards (3/132) and Mohammed (3/112) sharing the other wickets.

With a massive score of 532 all out to bowl with, Pollock and Ntini charged in to Gayle, clearly still hampered by his hamstring, and Ganga. From the start Gayle looked to attack the bowling and, being fed a steady diet of short balls and legstump deliveries, he persisted in reaching the boundary ropes.

Gayle reached his half-century from only 37 balls, which consisted of a stunning 10 fours and a six. Clearly Gayle had no intention of running singles and pressuring his recovering hamstring. At the other end Ganga concentrated well with firm defence and good judgement outside his offstump. Eventually he lost the plot however, and dragged on attempting to drive a ball which was not quite there for it. He made 17 from 67 balls in a 126-run partnership (new first wicket record for WI v SA) which clearly shows the dominance with which Gayle proceeded.

When Gayle reached his century, he had faced just 79 balls, representing the ninth fastest hundred in the history of Test cricket. His new partner Sarwan played with calm assurance and, bar a sharp miss by Pollock off the edge of the bat then off of Boucher's glove, he looked in supreme touch no doubt brought about by his century in the last Test.

At the close the West Indies stands at 178/1 still trailing the follow-on target by 155 runs. Overall they need 354 runs to equal South Africa's first innings effort. Gayle on 112 not out and Sarwan 39 not out will hope to continue the chase for a fair while into day three.

Match Summary:

South Africa 1st innings 532 ao (145 overs)
(MV Boucher 122 not out, JA Rudolph 101, ND McKenzie 76, JH Kallis 73)
(A Sanford 4/132, D Mohammed 3/112, FH Edwards 3/132)
West Indies 1st innings 178/1 (35 overs)
(CH Gayle 112 not out, RR Sarwan 39 not out)
(A Nel 1/34)

Posted by Liam