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South Africa West Indies Test Cricket at Saint Kitts coasts towards a draw

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South Africa West Indies Test Cricket at Saint Kitts coasts towards a draw

West Indies showed great resiliency as they posted a mighty total in response to South African’s grand first innings total in the fourth day of Saint Kitts test. The Caribbean hosts struggled a bit earlier but were successful in matching South African’s total.

South Africa, who put a mammoth total of 543 in the second test at Saint Kitts, declared their innings to give West Indies a chance to chase their total. South Africa came to the fourth day with the strategy of restricting hosts to a modest total and then putting additional 100-200 runs in the second innings before giving West Indies chance again and bowling them inside 5 days.

But their plan failed as resolute West Indies’ batsmen stood their  ground, and posted an equally large target. Centuries by Shivnarine Chanderpaul and Nash helped save the match. But the negative and defensive tactics of Chanderpaul and Dwayne Bravo also came under spotlight. West Indies were able to get nominal 3 run lead in first innings. But it seems it is now part of West Indian cricket culture to employ negative tactics to delay the result. Throughout the fourth day it seems that hosts were playing to exhaust South Africans in the field. The defensive approach adapted by West Indies and a lifeless batting track culminated in a boring day of cricket. Even the rain interruption after tea was more positive, and a welcome break.

West Indies started the fourth day in extremely defensive fashion as Chanderpaul and Bravo batted as this was some kind of 10 day test. Trailing by 119 runs, the intent of West Indian duo was obvious as they deliberately batted slowly so that result of test match can be pushed towards a draw. They made a nominal contribution of 39 in the first session of the day.

The tactics employed by the hosts was reminiscent of a West Indies test match against India on the same venue four years ago. Again, Chanderpaul was the main culprit at that time. Despite posting a mammoth total against India, Chanderpaul batted to grind a draw out a potential result. And as expected the result of test match between India and West Indies resulted in a draw, much to the dismay of cricket fans and pundits. Chanderpaul is famous for changing gear and playing slowly. But one cannot understand Bravo’s patient performance, as he is famous for playing fast and entertaining cricket. Like Marlon Samuels was Chanderpaul’s accomplice four years ago, Bravo was equally responsible this time. He batted at the same tempo dictated by Chanderpaul.

Seeing Chanderpaul, even some South African players also started adapting negative tactics. Ryan Harris was the culprit for South Africa as he continuously bowled a negative line from around the wicket to the West Indian duo. Harris was hoping to get some turn from rough outside leg stump but Bravo was more them happy to pad them away. At one point of time in match, Harris even bowled three wides down the leg side. Even attacking field setting employed by Captain Graeme Smith was wasted as Harris kept on bowling negative line. Four fielders close to the wicket were made redundant as the bowling line of Harris created little chances for them.

Although South African bowlers bowled lose balls which would have been put into the fence in a normal match, West Indian batsman looked reluctant to even score boundaries on loose balls. Shown by the fact, that only two boundaries were scored in the morning session. Both boundaries were scored by Bravo, who brought up his half-century with his second boundary of the day. He completed his half-century after consuming 176 balls. On the other hand, Chanderpaul added only 15 to his previous days score. Both of them were sent to the pavilion by Harris.

After bowling out West Indies for 546, South Africa started their second innings at the closing hours of day. They were on 23 for none when play was stopped for bad light. With the pitch still suitable for batting, apparently a draw is the only probable result.

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