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WI v SA - 2nd Test - Day 3

Monday, December 29 2003

An atrocious fielding display set South Africa squarely in control in the second Test match against the West Indies with two days to go. Six catches were dropped to add to the West Indies' woes.

Kirsten (137) was put down twice before he had reached fifty. The first was off a hard slash which flew through the hands of Brian Lara at slip. He then slashed again and had Vasbert Drakes soaring to his left to take a catch, ultimately unsuccessfully. Considering his lives, Kirsten proceeded to fairly punish the West Indian bowling to reach his coveted twentieth Test match hundred from 158 balls. His innings was finally ended when he looked to swing a Sarwan offering and was caught on the boundary by Vasbert Drakes. With his dismissal ended a 249-run partnership involving also Jacques Kallis and the score stood at a massive 516/4.

During the innings, Kirsten (already the leading Test run-scorer for South Africa) managed to cross 7000 runs in Test cricket.

Kallis himself was granted a chance earlier in the day, when Drakes failed to get into position for a fairly regulation catch off a top-edged hook. Needless to say, the ball was grassed and Kallis went on to score a fine century. The milestone was granted from 205 balls and 85 balls later, he moved past 150.

Finally the torture was ended when Kallis cut a ball from Dillon straight to Sarwan who managed to close his fingers around it. Kallis made 177 runs, his thirteenth century and second 150+ score in as many matches. He faced 344 balls and hit 20 fours while staying at the crease for a minute short of eight hours.

Now, at 562/5 and the lead already imposing at 298 runs, the West Indies could only hope to wrap up proceedings quickly with damage control. These efforts were not helped by Sarwan flooring a return catch from Neil McKenzie who then smashed a majestic straight six off the same bowler. Drakes accounted for McKenzie (32) caught behind to a slower ball and then tricked Boucher (12) with a ball that nipped back following a series of good slower deliveries.

Andy Hall partnered Shaun Pollock and the two attempted to force the initiative in the face of some impressive, albeit defensive bowling from Sarwan around the wicket and into the rough. Eventually Hall attempted a sweep too many and top edged a simple catch to substitute Dwayne Smith.

Earlier Sanford had put down as much of a 'sitter' as the term allowed when Pollock skied a full toss to his on the long leg boundary and, after settling under it with much time to relax, he simply could not hold on to the ball. The comedy was evident when the crowd gave a resounding cheer when the next ball was hit along the ground to the same Sanford, who fielded it cleanly this time.

Eventually Ntini cued the declaration with a fend at a wide Sanford ball to which Lara took a good over-the-shoulder pouch. Shaun Pollock was left unbeaten on 38.

With a first innings score of 658/9 dec. (the highest by South Africa in South Africa) and a lead of 394 runs, the West Indies took to the middle once more to face the remaining 10 overs in play.

Ganga (7) and Hinds (4) looked quite competent in negotiating the bowling, with the only scare being a confident appeal for caught behind, turned down correctly by umpire Simon Taufel. The score stands at 18/0, a further 376 runs from making the hosts bat again. There are still two days of scheduled play and clearly much work to be done by the West Indies.

Match Summary:

West Indies 1st innings 264 ao (77.5 overs)
(BC Lara 72, VC Drakes 67, RD Jacobs 58)
(M Ntini 5/66, A Nel 3/43, SM Pollock 2/59)
South Africa 1st innings 658 ao (166.2 overs)
(JH Kallis 177, HH Gibbs 142, G Kirsten 137)
(A Sanford 3/170, RR Sarwan 2/65, VC Drakes 2/113)
West Indies 2nd innings 18/0 (10 overs)
(WW Hinds 7 not out, D Ganga 4 not out)

Posted by Liam