Slow going as SA build lead in Antigua

This was not an advertisement for Test cricket, not even a bad one. Explaining the torpor of the day three of the fourth Test between the West Indies and South Africa at the Antigua Recreation Ground to the uninitiated would have tested the patience of a saint and the wisdom of Solomon. Just 132 runs were scored in the day, as the West Indies went firmly on the defensive and South Africa refused to hit back on the counter.

When stumps were finally pulled at the end of a day which was more about pulling teeth, South Africa were 122-3 - a lead of 229 - with Neil McKenzie 44 and Daryll Cullinan 17.

It was painful stuff, as for much of the afternoon Dinanath Ramnarine bowled with enormous control but zero attacking intent into the rough outside the leg-stump and Carl Hooper kept things tight at the other end. At times it was more of a football match as Herschelle Gibbs and McKenzie kicked, kicked and then kicked some more at Ramnarine.

No one should criticise the South African batsmen for selling their wickets so dearly. This was Test cricket after all. Nor should the West Indians take too much flak - with two full days remaining in the match, their tactics were understandable, if disappointing. The less time they have to bat on a wearing wicket, the greater their chances of saving the game and going to Jamaica still in the series - just.

When Cullinan struck Ramnarine to mid-wicket for four in the final hour, it was the first boundary in 236 balls and over two-and-a-half hours of cricket. In fact, if Cullinan had not upped the tempo towards the end, it would have been an even more sorry story.

Left-hander Nicky Boje had earlier been promoted up the order in a bid to upset the rhythm of Ramnarine and co, but his bid to shift gears was undone by an aggressive swing at Hooper before he was off the mark, the edge flying to substitute fielder Sylvester Joseph at slip.

The previous over Gibbs' long stay came to a controversial end. The opener was given out for 45 of 195 balls caught at slip by Chris Gayle off a Ramnarine delivery which spat viciously out of the rough. So viciously, in fact, that television replays showed it missed the bat altogether and flew up off his shoulder.

As it was, the morning session was actually sparklingly entertaining. The last four West Indian wickets could manage only 10 runs when play resumed with the home side 130-6, Lance Klusener the catalyst to the collapse with an off-cutter that spat at Hooper and took bat and pad before being caught by Gary Kirsten at short leg.

Klusener then fooled Neil McGarrell with a faster delivery, the right-hander who bowls left-arm spin trapped on the back foot plumb in front to be on his way for a duck on debut.

The West Indies tendency in this series to be their own worst enemies reared its head again when Ramnarine was run out for two by a direct hit from McKenzie at mid-on, and although Courtney Walsh flicked Shaun Pollock to the fine-leg boundary for four, he was adjudged leg-before to the first ball of the South African captain's next over.

South Africa then cantered to 50-1 at lunch as Gibbs played his shots and Gary Kirsten failed to reach double figures for the fourth consecutive innings. Kirsten was undone by a steepling delivery from Walsh which took the glove, Ramnaresh Sarwan diving full length at short leg to take a fine catch.

In a further blow to the West Indies cause, fast bowler Merv Dillon bowled just three balls before withdrawing from the attack with a bruised right thumb which was prevented him grip the ball properly. He did not bowl again on the third day.