Up to you, Lara
South Africa are closing in on victory in the fourth Test that has been as good as theirs since the first hour of the third day at the Antigua Recreation Ground
Tony Cozier
10-Apr-2001
South Africa are closing in on victory in the fourth Test that has
been as good as theirs since the first hour of the third day at the
Antigua Recreation Ground.
Only exceptional batting by Brian Lara on a difficult, worn pitch and
support from the lower order on the last day today, can prevent them
extending their lead in the series to 2-0 and securing the Sir Viv
Richards Trophy.
There are a minimum of 90 overs remaining, inevitably more since fast
bowlers are unlikely to feature much, and the West Indies, 101 for
four, are 222 short of their distant target. No day has produced as
many on a slow surface and sluggish outfield.
Cricket logic strongly favours a South African victory. But since that
unforgettable day at Kensington Oval two years ago when Lara almost
single-handledly defeated Australia with one of the truly great
innings, his unbeaten 153, hope is never lost when the champion lefthander is at the crease, as he is now.
But that was then, this is now. Lara has passed through troubled times
and his desire, and form, is not what it was then when he had points
to prove.
If not him, perhaps it will be Ramnaresh Sarwan's turn to step forward
and Ridley Jacobs to display to his fellow Antiguans the grit he has
shown elsewhere.
But they will need all the technique, application and luck they can
muster, even to make the South Africans fight for their prize.
Survival is already difficult against the left-arm spin of Nicky Boje
and the slow-medium off-cutters of Lance Klusener on the dry, scuffed
surface.
When South Africa declared their prolonged second innings midway
through yesterday, the West Indies were challenged to score 323 for an
improbable win.
More to the point, they had to bat through the last day and-a-half to
save the match.
Their hopes were effectively dashed when captain Carl Hooper and
Shivnarine Chanderpaul were dismissed within eight balls and three
runs of each other inside the last half-hour.
Left-handed openers Chris Gayle and Wavell Hinds had provided an
encouraging start, batting through the first hour, before both fell to
Boje to close catches in which the pad was involved.
Gayle essayed an ugly half-sweep that took the inside-edge and
rebounded to Neil McKenzie at silly point at 34 in the 16th over.
Hinds appeared to get the benefit of two bat-pad appeals, also off
Boje, but was decidedly unlucky when umpire Srinivas Venkataraghavan
ruled him caught at square short-leg an hour and 25 minutes into the
innings.
The ball rebounded from pad, with bat nowhere in the vicinity, but
Hinds had to go. In such conditions, the umpires' task is complicated
with the several bat-pad decisions but this was too clearcut to be
excused.
As Hinds departed, Hooper appeared, promoting himself above Lara,
right-hander for left-hander, to counter Boje's spin.
He played for three-quarters of an hour with little bother but then
midjudged a pull off Klusener and skied a catch that McKenzie gathered
in trotting around from mid-on. It was a dismissal that brought back
painful memories of Hooper's earlier life.
In the next over the reliable Chanderpaul, one of six left-handers in
the West Indies' 11, went back to Boje after an hour and 25 minutes of
diligent application, and was lbw.
They were two heavy body blows to the West Indies but Lara and Sarwan
saw out the day.
Once they dismissed the West Indies for 140 in their first innings
early on the third day for a lead of 107, South Africa have had ample
time and runs to complete their mission. Only defensive West Indies
bowling with confining field placings delayed their second innings
declaration at 215 for seven that took them 123 overs to compile.
The first half of the day was remarkable only for another marathon
spell from Courtney Walsh.
The veteran fast bowler is the oldest player in international cricket
at 38 and, unless he changes his mind, is one Test away from
retirement after 17 years in the service of the West Indies.
Yet, with Merv Dillon unable to bowl with his sprained right thumb,
Walsh kept going for 12 consecutive overs in the first hour and 40
minutes. He did so because he still loves bowling and he added three
wickets to his one of the previous day, stretching his Test record
tally to 513.
He bowled Neil McKenzie in his first over and, after Daryll Cullinan
cut Neil McGarrell into slip's lap, he removed the out-of-touch
Klusener and Boucher. He would have had another victim, but Gayle at
slip dropped Kallis' edge.
It would be a travesty if Walsh has to walk from the field today, last
man out with another West Indies defeat, as he has had to do
repeatedly of late.But it looks as if he will.