Spectacular Smith defies SA

CAPE TOWN: Dwayne Smith earned immediate comparisons with some of the legends of West Indies batsmanship yesterday, blazing his way to a spectacular debut hundred to put the seal on a defiant batting effort by the tourists that ensured a draw in the Third Test against South Africa. Six days from his 21st birthday, the elegant Barbadian right-hander stunned his opponents, the Newlands crowd and even some of his own team-mates with an unbeaten 105 as the Caribbean side threatened to rewrite history for the second time in less than eight months. They eventually settled for the safety of the stalemate, finishing at 354 for five — 87 runs short of the world record target of 441 — when the match was called off with five of the mandatory final 15 overs left to be bowled.

After victories in the first two Tests, the result ensures a series win and retention of the Vivian Richards Trophy by the home team ahead of the final Test beginning January 16 at Centurion. Yet that achievement, and even the invaluable contributions of skipper Brian Lara and vice-captain Ramnaresh Sarwan in the overall effort were overshadowed by Smith’s amazing assault. In becoming the first West Indian to score a hundred on Test debut for 28 years and the second youngest to achieve the feat after the great George Headley, he was assured of a place in history. But it was the manner of his audacious, powerful strokeplay that left a permanent imprint on the memory of all who saw it. Coming to the crease after Sarwan, on 69, fended a lifting delivery from Makhaya Ntini to gully, Smith, as in his brief first innings, showed no outward signs of nerves or discomfort at the dislocated little finger on his right hand.

At 224 for four and with a possible 47 overs left in the day, Graeme Smith’s men moved in for the kill only to be repelled by a volley of sublime shots. Undaunted by any number of traps set by the South African captain, the YMPC player proceeded to smash all bowlers with disdain to all parts of the boundary. He completely dominated a 72-run fifth-wicket partnership with Wavell Hinds, taking the pressure off the struggling Jamaican and re-igniting hopes of a miraculous victory as he raced to 50 at almost a run-a-minute off 52 balls, hoisting unlucky spinner Paul Adams for six to reach the landmark. His South African namesake’s attempts to stem the flow runs were to no avail. Some of his shots bore more than just an element of risk as he frequently cleared the inner ring, frustrating fielders who could not believe the spectacle unfolding before their eyes. Cynical journalists and weary broadcasters gasped in awe at his array of shots, but one stroke in particular — a square-drive on bended knee for six over cover off Ntini — bore the unmistakeable stamp of Caribbean bravado. Even as he sped into the nineties, Smith remained focused, two more authoritative boundaries of Andre Nel taking him to the century off only 93 deliveries with 15 fours and two sixes.

At that stage, the required rate was just over eight runs per over, a tantalising prospect if he could maintain the assault. But Lara chose to call off the chase, not wanting to risk another wicket to expose a suspect lower order. Ridley Jacobs, who had come in after Hinds played on to Shaun Pollock, remained quietly defiant to the end with Smith. The joy in the West Indian camp at the end of the day, having saved the match in considerable style, contrasted sharply with the sense of impending doom when Ntini removed both Daren Ganga and Chris Gayle inside the first hour of the morning following South Africa’s expected overnight declaration. But both Lara and Sarwan showed great resolve through a testing period against Adams as the left-arm wrist-spinner mixed occasional long-hops and full-tosses with deliveries that comprehensively beat both batsmen.

The captain and vice-captain extended their partnership into the afternoon, and the stand was worth 156 for the third wicket when Lara, on 86, got the under-edge to an attempted pull off Nel and Boucher snared the low catch, his 271st career dismissal, moving him into sole possession of third spot in the all-time list of wicketkeepers with the most victims in Test cricket. Following his first innings century, it seemed that the skipper’s efforts would be in vain once more, particularly as Sarwan’s demise followed shortly after tea. However Smith’s peerless display justified his faith in the young charges, and having fulfilled one promise in avoiding the dreaded whitewash, Lara’s men can actually expect to be even more competitive in the series finale in ten days’ time.