West Indies in danger of defeat

JOHANNESBURG: A devastating five-over spell of fast-bowling from Makhaya Ntini saw the paceman rip out three West Indies batsmen and put South Africa within sight of victory in the First Test ahead of the final day’s play.

The team from the Caribbean were reeling at 31 for three in their second innings at stumps on day four — 347 runs adrift of their victory target of 378. Ntini dismissed Wavell Hinds, nightwatchman Vasbert Drakes and Daren Ganga to leave the tourists in dire trouble. He had figures of three for 12 in the second innings. Earlier in the day, Ntini had completed a five-wicket haul in the first innings as the West Indies were dismissed for 410. That they posted such a large total was largely down to a superb 202 by Brian Lara, whose knock included a world-record 28 off one over from Robin Peterson during yesterday’s play. But even by his remarkable standards Lara will have to go some to pull off a win in this Test in which he has been fighting a solo rearguard action since the home side posted 561 in their first innings. Lara was at the crease but yet to score, with Ramnaresh Sarwan also unbeaten on six, at the close of play.  

The Windies could have hardly made a worse start to their reply. Hinds was first to go — without scoring — when he was beaten for pace and had his off-stump removed, and then Drakes failed to survive as he was bowled between bat and pad by Ntini. Drakes had contributed just six runs, and Ntini then trapped Ganga leg before for ten runs, bringing Lara to the crease. Earlier today, Lara had completed the sixth double century of his Test career, but it was to prove an otherwise disappointing day for the tourists. Resuming at 363 for six, the Windies’ day got off to a poor start when Mervyn Dillon was bowled by Ntini for 13, after adding just seven to his overnight first innings score. Chris Gayle offered Lara little support in making just eight before becoming Ntini’s fifth victim of the innings, but it was enough for the skipper to reach his personal landmark. Andre Nel then removed Lara for 202, caught by Martin van Jaarsveld, and Fidel Edwards for a duck, to end the tourists’ innings. Later Proteas skipper Graeme Smith declared his side’s second innings at 226 for six to give his bowlers time to have a go at the Windies openers before stumps. Three players — Smith, Jacques Kallis and Jacques Rudolph — scored 44 each in the home side’s second innings. There was a worrying moment when opener Herschelle Gibbs had to retire hurt after scoring just six runs in an hour and six minutes.  

A bouncer from Drakes crashed through the gap between the peak of his helmet and the mouthguard, leaving the batsman with a suspected broken nose. He left the field, retired hurt, to be replaced by Rudolph, but later on could be seen laughing and joking about the incident. Captain Smith, opening alongside Gibbs, was caught at backward point by substitute fielder Dwayne Smith off the bowling of Drakes. Kallis and Rudolph were both outfoxed by Wavell Hinds, the former caught by Ramnaresh Sarwan and the latter trapped lbw. Mark Boucher contributed 18 before being stumped by Ridley Jacobs off the bowling of Sarwan as he stepped down the pitch, before Van Jaarsveld was run out for 15. Shaun Pollock was the last man to fall as he was bowled by Corey Collymore for ten and when Smith called time Neil McKenzie and Peterson were unbeaten on nine and 18 respectively. It was an inspired move from the captain as Ntini found time to produce the burst which sets the tone for today’s final day.

Scoreboard
SOUTH AFRICA vs WEST INDIES
 South Africa 1st inns 561
West Indies 1st inns:
(Overnight 363/6)
West Indies 1st inns:
W Hinds c Peterson b Nel 10
D Ganga c Peterson b Ntini 60
R Sarwan c Boucher b Pollock 21
B Lara c Jaarsveld b Nel 202
S Chanderpaul b Ntini 34
R Jacobs c Boucher b Ntini 4
V Drakes LBW b Kallis 21
M Dillon b Ntini 13
C Gayle b Ntini 8
F H Edwards c N D McKenzie b A Nel 0
C D Collymore not out 1
EXTRAS (B12, LB15, W4, NB5) 36  
Total 410  

Fall of wickets: 43; 94; 141; 266; 278; 314; 380; 405; 409.
BOWLING:  Pollock 30-7-65-1; Ntini 32-9-94-5; Nel 32.5-11-78-3; Kallis 22-6-53-1; Peterson 13-2-76-0; Smith 4-0-17-0.
South Africa 2nd inns:
G C Smith c sub b Drakes 44  
H H Gibbs (retired hurt) 6
J A Rudolph c Sarwan b Hinds 44 
J H Kallis LBW  b Hinds 44 
M V Boucher st Jacobs b Sarwan 18 
M van Jaarsveld run out 15 
S M Pollock b Collymore 10 
N D McKenzie not out  9
R J Peterson not out 18
EXTRAS (B2, LB3, W6, NB7) 18  
Total for six wickets declared 226  

Fall of wickets:  72; 145; 158; 180; 188; 206.
BOWLING: Edwards 13-0-60-0; M Dillon 10-0-26-0; Drakes 10-2-21-1; Collymore 9-3-19-1; Sarwan 10-0-40-1;4-1; Hinds 11-0-55-2.
West Indies 2nd inns:
W W Hinds b M Ntini 0
D Ganga LBW  b M Ntini 10 
V C Drakes b M Ntini 6
R R Sarwan not out  6 
B C Lara not out 0
EXTRAS (B5, LB1, NB3) 9  
Total for three wickets 31  
Fall of wickets: 5; 18; 25.
BOWLING: Pollock 3-1-6-0; Ntini 5-2-12-3; Nel 2-0-7-0.