Rampaul’s five puts WI on top

BLOEMFONTEIN: A five-wicket haul from teenager Ravi Rampaul kept West Indies in a strong position against Free State in their four-day First-Class cricket tour match yesterday.

Rampaul captured five wickets for 55 runs from 17 overs as Free State, replying to West Indies’ first innings total of 618, were dismissed for 264 before tea. When stumps were drawn on the third day at Goodyear Park, West Indies were 39 for two in their second innings. For all the hype surrounding his form in the preceding One-Day International series against Zimbabwe, opening batsman Chris Gayle continued to struggle in the longer version of the game and was bowled by Cliff Deacon with the third ball of the West Indies’ second innings. Fellow opener Wavell Hinds batted steadily for 27, but was dismissed in the penultimate over of the day when he was adjudged leg before wicket to leg-spin bowler Dillon du Preez.

Earlier, Rampaul tore through the top order of the Free State batting to leave them 114 for seven at lunch. Half-centuries from Kosie Venter and du Preez in a 57-run ninth-wicket stand added substance to the home team’s total. Venter hit ten fours in the top score of 79 from 124 balls in just under two hours batting and newcomer du Preez demonstrated his all-round prowess with half-dozen fours and a pair of sixes in 56 from 66 balls in 80 minutes. After Free State resumed from their overnight position of three runs for two wickets, Rampaul removed captain Gerhardus Leibenberg, Ryan McLaren, James Schorn and Graham Botha for his second five-wicket haul in his tenth First-Class match.

Leibenberg and McLaren had batted through the first hour of the day and had added 55 for the third wicket when the Free State captain was caught at slip for 34 and, five over later, Schorn was caught close to the wicket for five. Free State were in peril when they crashed to 86 for six after Rampaul bowled McLaren for 31 and, four overs later, had Botha adjudged leg before wicket for six. The young fast bowler had run out of steam and West Indies captain Brian Lara dared to bring Daren Ganga into the attack. The result was that Deacon drowned in Ganga’s uncomplicated off-spin and was caught in the deep for 15 to prompt an early lunch. After the interval, Free State’s batsmen, with Venter and du Preez in the forefront, took the West Indies bowling by the scruff of the neck to beef up their side’s total.