da spicy bet： The West Indies missed a golden opportunity to roll over the South Africansfor under 200 in their first innings as South Africa – and captain ShaunPollock and Nicky Boje in particular – fought their way back into the fourthTest to close day one on
Marcus Prior06-Apr-2001The West Indies missed a golden opportunity to roll over the South Africansfor under 200 in their first innings as South Africa – and captain ShaunPollock and Nicky Boje in particular – fought their way back into the fourthTest to close day one on 210-7 at the Antigua Recreation Ground on Friday.
Pollock- undefeated 36
Photo CricInfo
Pollock (36) and Boje (28) underlined the the strength in depth of theSouth African batting line-up with an partnership now worth 62 for theeighth wicket. They came together as South Africa stumbled to 148-7, thevisitors reeling at the hands off debutant left-arm spinner Neil McGarrell.The 28 year-old McGarrell finished with accomplished debut figures of4-57 and bowled with patient control throughout. His performance looked formuch of the day to have vindicated the West Indies’ decision to go into atest match with two frontline spinners for the first time in 25 years. Onceagain, though, the home side let themselves down in the field.Two schoolboy chances went to ground, the first by Wavell Hinds atshort-leg off a bat-pad chance offered by Daryll Cullinan not proving tooexpensive as the right-hander fell for the fifth time in seven innings inthis series to the leg-spin of Dinanath Ramnarine after making just four.The second could prove to be more costly and for the second time in theseries it was an embarrassing miss by Brian Lara, this time at first slip asBoje drove loosely at Courtney Walsh. Boje was 24 and South Africa 197-7 fortime – we will know tomorrow just how expensive Lara’s miss will prove tobe.It put a dampener to what under normal circumstance would be considereda good day for the West Indies – for any side, indeed. A good start to daytwo will help ease the sense of having let one get away too.Three wickets fell before lunch, which South Africa reached on 53-3.Gary Kirsten avoided a third duck in succession but soon after a patientstart drove McGarrell straight to mid-on. Jacques Kallis edged a looseshot away from his body onto his stumpes to be bowled by Dillon and Cullinanedged a perfect leg-spinner from Ramnarine to first slip.
Boje- undefeated 28
Photo CricInfo
Immediately after lunch, Herschelle Gibbs and Neil McKenzie swung thebalance back in South Africa’s favour with a rollicking stand of 67 for thefourth wicket, the partnership packed with a flurry of boundaries as bothbatsmen looked to take the attack to the West Indies spinners.It came to an end when McKenzie was adjudged caught behind off McGarrellfor 35 to his clear displeasure – he made no secret of his belief that theball had flicked his pad rather than the bat. McKenzie’s departure was thesignal for a middle order collapse, Lance Kluserner leg-before to McGarrellfor a duck, and Mark Boucher slapping the same bowler straight to midwicketto go for just one.Gibbs (85) looked in superb touch for the better part of four hours,never afraid to use his feet to the spinners and on one occassion cartingDillon for a magnificent six over midwicket. He had struck 12 fours and onefurther six when he aimed a sweep at Carl Hooper, gloved the ball onto thechest of Ridley Jacobs and saw the ‘keeper take fine catch on the rebound.South Africa had slumped from 120-3 to 148-7.Enter Pollock and Boje.