West Indies push past tense thirties

There's no need for nervous nineties when skittish steps can be taken on any number along the way. Just ask West Indies.

Before today, the thirties were troublesome for them. None of them could push beyond that in Centurion but they have put that right in Port Elizabeth, where two of them have already managed sixties. Although gentler conditions have played their part, greater application and the willingness to grind it out have been on display against an attack which remains intimidating in any conditions.

West Indies' confidence was given a boost by their bowlers, whose four wickets in the morning session were proof they were not out of the contest. Still, they conceded the fastest fifty at this ground to Dale Steyn, who was given licence to aim for the school across at the road.

More worryingly for West Indies was what Steyn would do in the other department, especially as their line-up has been more of a concern than their attack.

Both Steyn and Vernon Philander started in signature style: back of a length, outside off and asking questions. There was a suggestion of movement from Steyn, who sowed uncertainty around Devon Smith's game. When Steyn offered the slightest width, Smith stayed rooted to his spot and reached. When Steyn pitched it up, Smith was drawn forward but drove limply. When Steyn dished up one that moved away, Smith was beaten. He would have known that any those deliveries could have got him out.

Steyn would have known that too and, thinking his bread was properly buttered, began to apply the jam. The first ball short ball squared Smith up, the second was edged for four. The tension heaved.

Smith did not look a likely candidate to convert a start, especially when compared to his partner. Kraigg Brathwaite was less jumpy and more assured. He waited for Vernon Philander to realise he needed to go fuller and then for him to overpitch and when Philander did, he enjoyed a duo of drives. It took what Allan Donald called an "inspired spell" from Morne Morkel to expose the difference between the two openers.

Morkel's natural length is short and that was how he started to Smith. When he erred on the side of too full, Smith cashed in and Morkel corrected, both quickly and dangerously. He struck Smith on the side of his head with a well-directed short ball that met the helmet with a queasy crack. Smith remained smiling but was obviously shaken.

Smith seemed to have gathered himself by the time he next met Morkel, when he pulled him firmly through midwicket but those would be the last runs he scored in this innings. Morkel made him duck with another bouncer, questioned where his off stump was with one that took the edge and reexamined the width needed to cut when he caught the bottom edge before removing Smith with a full delivery.

In the seconds in which Hashim Amla at first slip juggled the catch the edge offered, the discomfort Smith was experiencing at the crease reached its crescendo. He may have been willing to grind it out but it seemed he was better off not doing that. Few batsmen are relieved when they are dismissed but there was a sense Smith may have been.

Leon Johnson wasted no time going through the same thing and in two balls, Morkel had changed the complexion of West Indies' innings. What seemed a bright start had faded into familiar sepia and South Africa would have hoped to blot out their opposition right there. "Morne bowled an inspiring spell when he came on - it was a bit of a reminder of the spell against Australia with his lines over and around and the short ball barrage," Donald said.

But their other change bowler was Imran Tahir, whose mixture of full tosses and misguided aggression only allowed West Indies a let-off. Brathwaite - already their most successful opener of the last five years after Chris Gayle - showed his promise and Marlon Samuels - who scored 94 here when West Indies beat South Africa seven years ago - his experience.

Those two things will give West Indies hope that they will not have a repeat of the domino effect that has plagued them in recent times. Including the ongoing match, they have managed opening stands of 50 or more eight times this year - more than any other team. They can take heart in knowing that Brathwaite was part of all but one of those eight stands and is still there. All his captain asks is that he makes it count. "If we spend time at the crease, we are naturally gifted stroke makers and we can get runs," Denesh Ramdin said.

Beyond 30, 50 or even 90? Weather permitting, Ramdin believes they can. "If the sun is out, we will just have to bat." Without any nerves.