Bravo keeps West Indies in contest
Friday, 4 January 2008
Dwayne Bravo kept West Indies firmly in contention on the second day in Cape Town with two key wickets during the afternoon session. He removed Jacques Kallis and Hashim Amla in the space of eight balls to change the mood of the innings after a third-wicket stand of 59 had made significant progress into West Indies' 243. Jerome Taylor also played his part, removing both openers, and helped cover for the loss of Fidel Edwards with a hamstring injury, reports Cricinfo.
Amla and Kallis were starting to find their feet after a cautious start and the absence of Edwards, who hobbled off five balls into his fifth over, was beginning to hurt West Indies. Kallis was beginning to look dangerous as he took consecutive boundaries off Darren Powell and a few exploratory overs from Rawl Lewis's legspin didn't suggest he was the answer.
However, Bravo settled into a marathon 18-over spell split only by lunch, enabling Gayle to retain some control even when wickets weren't falling. The breakthrough came when Kallis was caught on the back foot and edged through to Denesh Ramdin, soon followed by Amla who was trapped on the crease by a delivery that shaped back in.
South Africa had been given a stronger start than of late with Graeme Smith and Neil McKenzie adding 46 - the first double-figure opening stand of the home season - but none of the top four could build on their starts. There are signs that this surface will break up with one ball from Powell clearly exploding on the surface and South Africa are in danger of missing an opportunity.
Taylor helped take up the slack from Edwards's departure with a lively spell either side of lunch which brought two wickets. McKenzie was drawn forward outside off stump and the delivery held its line to take the edge and Gayle completed a regulation catch. McKenzie hadn't been overawed during his first Test innings in three-and-half years, but his demise for 23 set a trend.
Smith had been far from convincing, always giving the impression that he was close to being trapped lbw or edging to slip, and was removed in predictable style as he pushed away from his body. The catch would probably have carried to first slip, but Ramdin dived across and made sure of the scalp.
They would do well to take a leaf out of Shivnarine Chanderpaul's book when it comes to occupying the crease. He was left unbeaten on 65 off 223 balls as West Indies' innings was wrapped up in 18 balls. Nel removed Powell with the fifth ball of the day, edging a limp push to second slip, then Edwards went in his next over.
Amla and Kallis were starting to find their feet after a cautious start and the absence of Edwards, who hobbled off five balls into his fifth over, was beginning to hurt West Indies. Kallis was beginning to look dangerous as he took consecutive boundaries off Darren Powell and a few exploratory overs from Rawl Lewis's legspin didn't suggest he was the answer.
However, Bravo settled into a marathon 18-over spell split only by lunch, enabling Gayle to retain some control even when wickets weren't falling. The breakthrough came when Kallis was caught on the back foot and edged through to Denesh Ramdin, soon followed by Amla who was trapped on the crease by a delivery that shaped back in.
South Africa had been given a stronger start than of late with Graeme Smith and Neil McKenzie adding 46 - the first double-figure opening stand of the home season - but none of the top four could build on their starts. There are signs that this surface will break up with one ball from Powell clearly exploding on the surface and South Africa are in danger of missing an opportunity.
Taylor helped take up the slack from Edwards's departure with a lively spell either side of lunch which brought two wickets. McKenzie was drawn forward outside off stump and the delivery held its line to take the edge and Gayle completed a regulation catch. McKenzie hadn't been overawed during his first Test innings in three-and-half years, but his demise for 23 set a trend.
Smith had been far from convincing, always giving the impression that he was close to being trapped lbw or edging to slip, and was removed in predictable style as he pushed away from his body. The catch would probably have carried to first slip, but Ramdin dived across and made sure of the scalp.
They would do well to take a leaf out of Shivnarine Chanderpaul's book when it comes to occupying the crease. He was left unbeaten on 65 off 223 balls as West Indies' innings was wrapped up in 18 balls. Nel removed Powell with the fifth ball of the day, edging a limp push to second slip, then Edwards went in his next over.