- DELLMAR
South African batsman AB de Villiers (with bat raised) is congratulated by Boeta Dippenaar after reaching his century against the West Indies yesterday during the second day's play of the third Digicel Test at Kensington Oval in Barbados. De Villiers reached 122 not out in his team's 253 for one at close, responding to the West Indies first innings of 296.
Tony Becca, Contributing Editor
ONCE UPON a time, definitely so in the 1980s and the 1990s, when feared West Indies fast bowlers were on the rampage, Kensington Oval was like a lion's den to visiting batsmen.
However, in recent years, certainly so in the last three, when the West Indies lost to New Zealand, Australia and England, that has not been the case.
Yesterday, the second day of the third Test in the Digicel Series between the West Indies and South Africa, was no different.
Unlike the days when batsmen shivered in their boots before surrendering, South Africa's batsmen enjoyed themselves against bowlers, who were as gentle as lambs. At stumps the visitors were cruising along at 253 for one, replying to the West Indies' first innings 296.
On the same pitch on which South Africa's fast bowlers ripped out the first three West Indies batsmen for 12 runs in seven overs and after surviving Brian Lara's genius, the West Indies bowlers were easy pickings for the left-handed Graeme Smith and Abraham Benjamin de Villiers, who helped themselves to a century each, sharing an opening partnership of 191 in 65 overs.
APPEALS WERE FEW
On a day when appeals were few and far between, when cheers for the West Indies were mostly for some brilliant fielding here and there, when captain Shivnarine Chanderpaul used eight bowlers in short spells and mostly to a defensive field, Smith ticked off his second century in a row, his fourth in seven matches against the West Indies, and his 10th against all comers after batting for 284 minutes, facing 203 deliveries.
The South African captain stroked 13 fours and hit one six, a lovely drive over wide long-on off Ryan Hinds and his friendly left-arm slow bowling.
After scoring one century in nine previous Test matches, the 21-year-old right-handed de Villiers used the opportunity to tick off his second, his innings so far lasting for 356 minutes during which he faced 236 deliveries and like Smith, stroked 13 fours and hit one six.
Resuming at 292 for seven after losing Lara and Bravo in successive overs late on the first day, the West Indies failed to bat as long as they had hoped and therefore failed to score as many runs as they would have liked.
The West Indies' innings lasted a mere 15 minutes into the morning's play. Pacer Monde Zondeki picked up two wickets for two runs in two overs to finish with four for 50 off 16 and fast bowler Andre Nel grabbed one for two in 1.2 to end with four for 56 off 21.2 overs.
Given their chance with the ball, the Windies bowlers were so ordinary yesterday that the only logical reason why they were not battered around the ground was probably because South Africa decided to stick to their original plan of action, batting throughout today, probably even into tomorrow's fourth day.
SCOREBOARD
West Indies, 1st Innings
Wavell Hinds c Smith b Ntini 1
Chris Gayle c Boucher b Nel 0
Ramnaresh Sarwan c Prince b Nel 10
Brian Lara b Nel 176
Shivnarine Chanderpaul
c Boucher b Zondeki 53
Ryan Hinds c Boucher b Kallis 10
Dwayne Bravo c Smith b Zondeki 26
Courtney Browne c Zondeki b Nel 5
Daren Powell c Boucher b Zondeki 3
Fidel Edwards c Dippenaar b Zondeki 2
Reon King not out 0
Extras: (1b, 3lb, 1w, 5nb) 10
TOTAL: (all out) 296
Overs: 92.2.
Fall of wickets: 1-2, 2-12, 3-12, 4-150, 5-171, 6-286, 7-288, 8-292, 9-296.
Bowling: Andre Nel 21.2-3-56-4 (1nb), Makhaya Ntini 17-2-61-1, Jacques Kallis 14-6-37-1 (1w), Monde Zondeki 16-1-50-4 (4nb), Graeme Smith 8-1-23-0, Nicky Boje 16-2-65-0.
South Africa, 1st Innings
Graeme Smith c Wavell Hinds b Gayle 104
AB de Villiers not out 122
Boeta Dippenaar not out 23
Extras: (4nb) 4
TOTAL: (for 1 wicket) 253
Overs: 46.
Fall of wicket: 1-191.
To bat: Jacques Kallis, Herschelle Gibbs, Ashwell Prince, Mark Boucher, Nicky Boje, Monde Zondeki, Makhaya Ntini, Andre Nel.
Bowling: Fidel Edwards 16-2-46-0 (1nb), Reon King 14-1-40-0 (1nb), Daren Powell 12-0-41-0 (1nb), Dwayne Bravo 15-3-30-0 (1nb), Ryan Hinds 6-0-31-0, Chris Gayle 14-2-41-1, Wavell Hinds 6-0-17-0, Ramnaresh Sarwan 1-0-7-0.
Umpires: Simon Taufel, Australia, and Billy Bowden, New Zealand.
TV umpire: Billy Doctrove, Dominica. Reserve umpire: Vincent Bullen, Barbados.
Match Referee: Jeff Crowe, New Zealand.
'No big feat to beat Windies'
PRETORIA, South Africa, CMC:
SOUTH AFRICAN cricket selector Omar Henry has downplayed the importance of a series win against the West Indies, saying it was not "a big feat" to defeat the regional team.
The former Convener of Selectors, whose tenure expires at the end of April, said that a series victory for South Africa therefore should not be viewed as an endorsement of coach Ray Jennings' credentials.
"It is not really a big feat to beat the Windies, even on their home grounds," Henry was quoted as saying in South Africa's Beeld newspaper.
"I could select a team of cricketers who are in South Africa at present who would beat the Windies without any problems. Let us put it this way: If you can't beat the Windies, then you really have problems."
South Africa lead the Digicel series 1-0 after drawing the opening Test in Guyana and then winning the second Test in Trinidad two weeks ago.
The relationship between Henry and Jennings is said to have deteriorated in recent times and the tour of the West Indies is being viewed as Jennings' last in charge of the South African team. His contract expires at the end of the tour.
"What has Jennings really achieved since becoming the national coach?" Henry queried. "He could not beat India at home and he lost against England on our own pitches."
South Africa, who have struggled in recent times, are scheduled to play New Zealand later in the year before embarking on a tough tour of Australia.
