da apostebet： This was not an advertisement for Test cricket, not even a bad one
Marcus Prior08-Apr-2001This was not an advertisement for Test cricket, not even a bad one.Explaining the torpor of the day three of the fourth Test between the WestIndies and South Africa at the Antigua Recreation Ground to the uninitiatedwould have tested the patience of a saint and the wisdom of Solomon. Just132 runs were scored in the day, as the West Indies went firmly on thedefensive and South Africa refused to hit back on the counter.
McKenzie- slow going
Photo AFP
When stumps were finally pulled at the end of a day which was more aboutpulling teeth, South Africa were 122-3 – a lead of 229 – with Neil McKenzie44 and Daryll Cullinan 17.It was painful stuff, as for much of the afternoon Dinanath Ramnarinebowled with enormous control but zero attacking intent into the roughoutside the leg-stump and Carl Hooper kept things tight at the other end. Attimes it was more of a football match as Herschelle Gibbs and McKenziekicked, kicked and then kicked some more at Ramnarine.No one should criticise the South African batsmen for selling theirwickets so dearly. This was Test cricket after all. Nor should the WestIndians take too much flak – with two full days remaining in the match,their tactics were understandable, if disappointing. The less time they haveto bat on a wearing wicket, the greater their chances of saving the game andgoing to Jamaica still in the series – just.When Cullinan struck Ramnarine to mid-wicket for four in thefinal hour, it was the first boundary in 236 balls and over two-and-a-halfhours of cricket. In fact, if Cullinan had not upped the tempo towards theend, it would have been an even more sorry story.Left-hander Nicky Boje had earlier been promoted up the order in a bidto upset the rhythm of Ramnarine and co, but his bid to shift gears wasundone by an aggressive swing at Hooper before he was off the mark, the edgeflying to substitute fielder Sylvester Joseph at slip.The previous over Gibbs’ long stay came to a controversial end. Theopener was given out for 45 of 195 balls caught at slip by Chris Gayle off aRamnarine delivery which spat viciously out of the rough. So viciously, infact, that television replays showed it missed the bat altogether and flewup off his shoulder.As it was, the morning session was actually sparklingly entertaining.The last four West Indian wickets could manage only 10 runs when playresumed with the home side 130-6, Lance Klusener the catalyst to thecollapse with an off-cutter that spat at Hooper and took bat and padbefore being caught by Gary Kirsten at short leg.Klusener then fooled Neil McGarrell with a faster delivery, the right-handerwho bowls left-arm spin trapped on the back foot plumb in front to be on hisway for a duck on debut.The West Indies tendency in this series to be their own worst enemiesreared its head again when Ramnarine was run out for two by a direct hitfrom McKenzie at mid-on, and although Courtney Walsh flicked ShaunPollock to the fine-leg boundary for four, he was adjudged leg-before to thefirst ball of the South African captain’s next over.South Africa then cantered to 50-1 at lunch as Gibbs played his shotsand Gary Kirsten failed to reach double figures for the fourth consecutiveinnings. Kirsten was undone by a steepling delivery from Walshwhich took the glove, Ramnaresh Sarwan diving full length at short leg totake a fine catch.In a further blow to the West Indies cause, fast bowler Merv Dillonbowled just three balls before withdrawing from the attack with a bruisedright thumb which was prevented him grip the ball properly. He did not bowlagain on the third day.