Jacobs and Samuels take fifth Test away from South Africa

A rollicking undefeated 67 from Ridley Jacobs and a superb half-century from 20 year-old Marlon Samuels ensured that the West Indies capitalised on their strong overnight position to virtually bat South Africa out of the fifth Test at Sabina Park on day three.

By the close, the West Indies were 255-7, an overall lead of 339, with Dinanath Ramnarine alongside Jacobs on nine.

Coming in with the West Indies a fragile 77-3, Samuels (59) played with a freedom and maturity which belied the fact he was dropped from the Test side only two weeks ago. When he was finally dismissed in Shaun Pollock's first over with the second new ball, he had faced 97 balls and struck nine sweet boundaries. The way he gave his wicket away was a disappointment, driving off the back foot with the bat well away from his body, an inside edge sending the ball crashing into middle and leg stumps.

Jacobs ensured the good work was not wasted, though, never afraid of the unorthodox - and occasionally the downright bizarre - as he went after the South African bowling. His aggression was rewarded with one piece of luck, Justin Kemp putting down a very tough chance at fine-leg when Jacobs top-edged a pull off Pollock.

Although Mervyn Dillon (13) struck Pollock straight to Herschelle Gibbs at point after a confident start, Ramnarine hung around to the close untroubled.

Resuming on 34 without loss overnight, opener Leon Garrick was the first man to go on day three, the victim of a superb piece of fast bowling from Allan Donald. Seeing Garrick was keen pull and hook, Donald tested him on four separate occasions and four times the stocky right-hander failed to make clean contact. Just when Garrick might have been expecting another short-pitched delivery, Donald bowled the the perfect leg-cutter which took the edge and flew through to Mark Boucher. It was brilliant stuff from the master, totally out-thinking a naive apprentice.

Pollock then tossed the ball to Kemp, who continued the captain's round-the-wicket attack to the left-handers with almost immediate dividends. After his usual neat start, Shivnarine Chanderpaul lookd to drive Kemp through the covers but instead edged an away-swinger to Daryll Cullinan at first slip.

Left-arm spinner Paul Adams slipped quickly into a good rhythm and in the third over after lunch he bowled Brian Lara for just 14 as the left-hander came down the wicker but succeeded only in turning a full delivery into a yorker.

The patience of Chris Gayle was reaching monumental proportions as he reached 32 from 179 deliveries, his judgement outside the off-stump impeccable as he chose to leave more often than not. It took something special from Pollock to remove him, the left-hander totally bemused by a slow yorker which removed middle-stump.

The delivery from Jacques Kallis which brought about the end of West Indies captain Carl Hooper (5) was another peach. Hooper was looking to make up for the injudicious pull which saw his demise in the first innings, but could do little about the steepling bounce of a ball fended uncomfortably to Pollock who took a good catch at the second attempt at third slip.