West Indies and South Africa with everything to play for in final Test

There are those who believe that Test cricket is supposed to be flashing blades and tremendously fast bowling coupled with great catching. Much of that has been present in this series except, perhaps, that set of flashing blades. Now, the series comes down to the end with the final Test finely poised. It has been a tremendous series even though South Africa has already won.

Courtney Walsh, in his 132nd and final Test, could well have swung this game fully into the West Indies' favour with his 517th Test wicket - Daryll Cullinan LBW for 18. Cullinan and Neil McKenzie had been playing well before that decision was given against Cullinan. With the West Indian spinners, Carl Hooper and Dininath Ramnarine, getting increasing bounce and turn on this wearing pitch, this game could still be very tight. It is still somewhat open, but maybe the West Indies hold a 60-40 advantage.

McKenzie, South Africa's utility batsman, batting at three this time, holds the key to his team's immediate future. He has been almost perfect for his 40 not out, but should have been out stumped when he had made 27 from Ramnarine's bowling. That miss could cause the West Indies some problems on the last day. All-rounder Jacques Kallis, who has gone off the boil a bit with the bat lately and needs to end the series on a high note, is on 5 not out. If these two get a good start on the final day what follows could be very interesting.

South Africa had been motoring along at 101-1 when Herschelle Gibbs swiped at Carl Hooper's off break and was comprehensively bowled. If his team does lose this game, Gibbs could face an inquisition, since at that stage he and McKenzie had been controlling things for their team.

Earlier, the West Indies had extended their second innings to 301 with Ridley Jacobs playing very sensibly for his eventual 85. Shaun Pollock again showed that he is still scrambling for the position of the world's best all-rounder with Kallis, Pollock ending with 4-66, giving him match figures of 9-94. He is scheduled to bat at nine and could still win this game for his team. What a tantalising spectacle we have in store on the final day.

The equation is simple. South Africa need a further 246 runs to make history. If they achieve that 386 it would be the third -highest score achieved in Test cricket to win a game while the West Indies need seven more wickets to win for the first time since June last year. Both teams have 90 overs to complete their respective objectives.