Ntini, Smith shine for SA

Second Digicel Test: West Indies v South Africa at Trinidad

The second day started with all eyes on Brian Lara, who’s re-entry into the test team yielded a quite magnificent innings yesterday.

The South Africans, keen to make inroads at the other end dismissed the West Indies lower order with some ease. Courtney Browne and Daren Powell fell to Ntini and Collins was struck in front by Andre Nel.

At the other end, Brian Lara showed how much he was missed in the first test, driving with agression and pushing the West Indies up to a strong first innings total of 347 on a track that held a few surprises.

Andre Nel has dominated Brian Lara in recent times, and a truly special ball dismissed him on 198. The ball angling into the batsman, straightened and clipped Lara’s off bail much to the astonishment of the partisan home crowd, as well as the players in the middle. The first innings belonged, from a bowling point of view, to Makhya Ntini who took 6/95.

Graeme Smith and AB de Villiers began the reply positively, taking advantage of some fairly bland bowling. De Villiers was the first wicket to fall when he drove King lazily into the hands of Chanderpaul at cover, and soon after the out of sorts Rudolph edged Bravo to the keeper.

After a grinding century in his last innings, Jacques Kallis was still in survival mode, taking advantage of his outstanding form with the bat, but not looking to dominate the bowling, he and Smith nearly survived until stumps, before Kallis fell LBW to Bravo.

Smith resumes tomorrow on 90, along with Nightwatchman Monde Zondeki, as South Africa look to build on a good start.

West Indies 347 (BC Lara 198, M Ntini 6/95)
South Africa 182/3 (GC Smith 90*, DJJ Bravo 2/39)