Cricket update - West Indies vs South Africa, 3rd test, Day 1 Review
It was back to business as far as West Indian cricket team is concerned. After showing some good resistance and resilience in the 2nd test against South Africa at St.Kitts, the home team once again crumbled as soon as a seamer friendly track came up.
Chris Gayle who must have been full of confidence after the gritty performance from the team in the 2nd test, won the toss and chose to bat first on a pitch that was expected to offer some bounce to the seamers.
Gayle went out to open the innings with the man recalled in tests after some good performances in one day games, Dale Richards. It surely was not a happy return for him. Richards struggled to handle some hostile South African bowling and could not even get one ball to hit the middle of the bat. The visitors kept the short ball fizzing through. Richards finally fell after scratching around for 10 balls, he was trapped leg before by Morne Morkel, and Richards failed to even get off the mark.
Chris Gayle though on the other hand displayed the same careless approach which makes it difficult to distinguish that whether he is playing a one day, T-20 or a test match. Gayle kept slashing at anything remotely wide, smashing three boundaries that took him to 20 from 18 balls but he played one shot too many and was cleaned up the very next ball by the sheer pace of Dale Steyn. As usual West Indian heads dropped as soon as the captain left the field. Deonarine. at Number 3, showed some determination, reminiscing the marathon partnership between Chanderpaul and Nash. However, it was for a very short time compared to what they managed to do. Once again it was Chanderpaul with him in the centre for inspiration. The two decided to play the waiting game.
South Africa kept feeding the two outside the off stump but both showed patience for a while and put on 55 for the 3rd wicket. Before Chanderpaul was caught by Kallis off the bowling of Botha, Chanderpaul scored 22 runs from 63 balls with one six. Next in was the 2nd hero from the St. Kitts test Nash. He could not repeat the same heroics and was sent back pretty quickly. Botha trapped the left hander plum in front; he only scored 2 runs from 6 balls. West Indies at that point were at 90 for 4.
The talented all rounder Dwayne Bravo was in next and after 15 runs, Deonarine was bowled trying to play a booming drive off Botha, Deonarine scored 46 runs from 106 balls with 7 fours, leaving the hosts at 105 for 5. Bravo then stood out showing patience and determination; he had able support from the wicketkeeper Ramdin. Both put on 76 runs for the 6th wicket in almost 23 overs, before Ramdin was sent back caught by Steyn off the bowling off Kallis for 27 runs from 71 balls(including 4 boundaries).
Shillingford, the off spinner, did not last long and was dismissed for naught. The tall left hander Sulieman Benn then joined Bravo for a 17 run stand which was broken when Bravo was finally dismissed for a well made 61 from 104 balls, Bravo struck 4 boundaries and a six.
That pretty much spelled the end for hosts who were eventually all out for 231 runs. Definitely a disappointing score considering they had chosen to bat first. Botha was South Africa’s most successful bowler with 4 wickets.
With half a session to go South Africa really did not have much to gain from the rest of the day’s play. They played 14 overs, but lost 2 crucial wickets Petersen was taken early for just 1 by Roach, followed by the all important wicket of Hashim Amla for just 5 runs. Amla’s problems with spin in West Indies continue as he was snapped up by Sulieman Benn. Captain Graeme Smith was not out at 35 at the close of play with night watchman Paul Harris at the crease with him. South Africa ended the day at 46 for 2, trailing West Indies by 185 runs.
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