Windies build on 213-run first-innings lead
Saturday, 29 December 2007
West Indies continued their stranglehold over South Africa on the third day, first bundling them out for 195 - to give themselves a huge 213-run first-innings cushion - and then stretching it to 279 by tea, reports Cricinfo.
Dwayne Bravo was the star with the ball, combining pace, accuracy and seam movement in a lethal spell either side of the lunch break that fetched him outstanding figures of 4 for 14.
Chris Gayle then bludgeoned 29 from 22 balls to put South Africa further on the defensive, while Daren Ganga was unbeaten on a composed 22.
Resuming at 122 for 5, South Africa needed the partnership between AB de Villiers and Mark Boucher - the last recognised batting pair - to flourish, but Boucher fell in the third over of the day, attempting an injudicious pull shot off Jerome Taylor. That, though, was the only success for any of the frontline fast bowlers today, as all three were slightly off-colour: Powell sprayed it down leg side too often, while Taylor and Fidel Edwards struggled with their length.
de Villiers, easily the best South African batsman on view, and Paul Harris led a mini-recovery with a dogged 43-run partnership.
Harris's contribution was only nine, but he played his part well, defending so solidly that de Villiers didn't need to shield him: of the 109 balls in the partnership, Harris played 56.
Tea West Indies 408 and 66 for 2 (Ganga 22*, Samuels 9*) lead South Africa 195 (de Villiers 59, Bravo 4-24) by 279 runs. WI 133 for 4 at 9:25 pm
Dwayne Bravo was the star with the ball, combining pace, accuracy and seam movement in a lethal spell either side of the lunch break that fetched him outstanding figures of 4 for 14.
Chris Gayle then bludgeoned 29 from 22 balls to put South Africa further on the defensive, while Daren Ganga was unbeaten on a composed 22.
Resuming at 122 for 5, South Africa needed the partnership between AB de Villiers and Mark Boucher - the last recognised batting pair - to flourish, but Boucher fell in the third over of the day, attempting an injudicious pull shot off Jerome Taylor. That, though, was the only success for any of the frontline fast bowlers today, as all three were slightly off-colour: Powell sprayed it down leg side too often, while Taylor and Fidel Edwards struggled with their length.
de Villiers, easily the best South African batsman on view, and Paul Harris led a mini-recovery with a dogged 43-run partnership.
Harris's contribution was only nine, but he played his part well, defending so solidly that de Villiers didn't need to shield him: of the 109 balls in the partnership, Harris played 56.
Tea West Indies 408 and 66 for 2 (Ganga 22*, Samuels 9*) lead South Africa 195 (de Villiers 59, Bravo 4-24) by 279 runs. WI 133 for 4 at 9:25 pm