Cricket Update: Another Drab Draw in West Indies Vs South Africa
The second test match between the West Indies and South Africa has ended in a dull draw, on a lifeless pitch that was anything but good advertisement for the longest format of the game. The South Africans won the toss and opted to bat first on a belter of a wicket. The captain of the team, Graeme Smith led from the front scoring a big hundred for his team, thus laying a solid foundation.
Alviro Petersen chipped in with a fifty, while Hashim Amla helped Smith add 112 runs for the second wicket. The Proteas consolidated their position on the opening day of the test match fresh from their comfortable win in the first test of the series.
Graeme Smith was dismissed after compiling 132 runs, of 238 balls his innings was studded with 9 fours and 3 sixes. The run fest continued with all-rounder Jacques Kallis, also scoring a hundred to further West Indian woes, with his 110 knock that was scored off 227 balls, and included 12 fours.
The innings was given a real impetus by AB De Villers, who struck 6 sixes to up the tempo and raised the run rate from a crawling 2.7 runs per over to close to 3.7 per over, through his scintillating stroke play. De Villers also smashed 13 fours, besides the six sixes in his innings that came off 168 balls.
The South Africans declared their innings on the second day at 543 for 6, after batting for 147 overs. Spinner Shillingford was the pick of the West Indian bowling claiming three wickets for 193 runs of 52 marathon overs.
The reply from the hosts was better than the South Africans, as the St.Kitts wicket flattened out further helping the hosts, who recovered from a shaky start through a solid partnership between Chris Gayle and Denoarine. Shivnarine Chanderpaul then helped stabilise the innings, with an authoritative knock that ground out the imposing South African attack.
The diminutive batsman from Guyana was at his stoic best, scoring runs at a leisurely pace yet ensuring that he hangs around and guides his team to safety from a potentially dangerous position.
Chanderpaul found great support from fellow left hander Brendon Nash, who was far more adventurous then the Guyanese dapper, scoring his 114 runs of only 148 balls, his innings included 14 fours and one six and the duo added 220 runs in their fourth wicket partnership.
After Nash’s departure Dwayne bravo joined hands with Chanderpaul, and both stayed at the wicket for a long duration of time, Chanderpaul was dismissed with the score on 471 for a well made 166. The West Indians closed their only innings in the game at 546, a slender three run win over the Proteas, the hosts were dismissed on the fourth afternoon leaving a few tough overs for the South Africans to negotiate.
Morne Morkel claimed four wickets, while left arm spinner Paul Harris captured a brace, in the West Indian innings. The final day was less than spectacular as the Proteas preferred to play out time, when they knew that getting a decision in the game was not a possibility.
Graeme Smith scored 46, while Petersen was dismissed by a brute of a yorker by Bravo with the batsman on 39. Hashim Amla missed his half century for the second time in the game as he was dismissed for 41. The last one hour was played out safely by Jacques Kallis and AB DeVillers who remained unbeaten on 31 off 130 balls.
The South Africans were placed at 235 for 3, when stumps were drawn for the match on the last afternoon. Shiv Chanderpaul was named man of the match; the Proteas lead the series 1-0.
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