3rd Test: West Indies v South Africa, Day 2 comments (27 December 1998)

27 December 1998

3rd Test: West Indies v South Africa, Day 2 comments

By Ken Borland

Brian Lara reckoned Jonty Rhodes spends more time in the nets than out in the middle, but the West Indies captain must have been regretting the chirp on Sunday at Kingsmead as the Natal favourite left the tourists battling to stay alive in the series with an exhilarating 85 not out.

South Africa finished the second day of the third cricket Test on 292 for eight, 94 runs ahead of the West Indies' first-innings score of 198, having won the first two Tests. Rhodes, always one for hard work, led the way after a net at the end of the first day and one during Sunday's lunch break.

"Kingsmead's not the sort of pitch where you can come in and start hitting from ball one. I know I'm not the most naturally gifted of batsmen, so I need to hit as many balls as possible in practice and when it pays off then you can be very happy."

Rhodes spent 172 minutes at the crease on Sunday, hitting eight stylish boundaries and two incredible sixes off the miserly Curtly Ambrose, leader of the West Indian pace attack. The only South African to pass 50, he ensured that the home team are heading for the decent first-innings lead their dominance has deserved, despite most of the other batsmen giving their wickets away when well set.

"I was intent on not getting out because I have been embarassed by the way Pat Symcox and Allan Donald gutsed it out in Port Elizabeth, getting hammered all over their bodies, while myself as a top-order batsman has given my wicket away," Rhodes said last night.

The Maritzburg Varsity product said his assault on Ambrose, which saw him bury two of his deliveries amongst the ecstatic crowd behind square leg, was not pre-planned.

"I didn't go out there thinking I must try to hit Curtly out the attack, but he bowls such a difficult length to score off, back a bit and hitting the gloves, that I had to try the pull, like I did against Angus Fraser in England."

Over 14000 people came to watch the cricket at Kingsmead on Sunday, and Rhodes said he had been inspired by the masses.

"We've had some bad press recently about the composition of our team, so it was great to see so many people here, of all different colours across the spectrum. The support was fantastic and I really enjoyed myself."

With just the tailenders, Allan Donald and David Terbrugge for support, there will be great interest on Monday morning to see whether Rhodes can score the 15 runs needed for his century, but the local hero refused to put any more pressure on himself, saying: "With only two Test hundreds to my name at this stage, it's too late to start worrying about it now."

Source :: Ken Borland