A spectacular collapse by South Africa after lunch, during which Courtney
Walsh picked up two further wickets on his final appearance on the Test
stage, brought the curtain down on an absorbing fifth Test match and a great
career.
When Paul Adams was the last man out for the South Africans, the desire
to give Walsh a fitting final adieu after 132 Tests was achieved and the
West Indies had won by 130 runs. South Africa may have won the series 2-1,
but Walsh's memories of his final Test at his home ground will be forever
sweet, his world record wicket tally finishing at a magnificent 519.
South Africa lost six wickets in a little over an hour on the final
afternoon, as Walsh, Dinanath Ramnarine and Mervyn Dillon all struck twice.
Ramnarine bagged his two in the first over after lunch, first bowling
Jacques Kallis (51) off an inside-edge as the South African looked to pull a
ball which kept a touch low and then producing the perfect leg-spinner to
Mark Boucher (0) which took the edge and was well taken by Ridley Jaobs
behind the stumps.
Dillon made the most of the second new ball, enticing Shaun Pollock (3)
to have a go at a wide long-hop which the South African captain sliced to
Jacobs.
Walsh then took himself to the brink of retirement and his team to the
brink of victory with two wickets in consecutive overs. Justin Kemp
completed a miserable Test with the bat as he was trapped plumb in front for
a duck to give him a pair in the match and Allan Donald (10) had a wild
swipe and saw his middle stump removed from the ground.
As the crowd warmed to the occasion, Adams handed Dillon his third
wicket of the innings when he skied an ugly shot to Marlon Samuels at
backward point. Game over, and time for Courtney Andrew Walsh to put his
feet up. Deservedly so. As they say in this part of the world, "Respect,
mon".
Resuming on 140-3 overnight, the South African desire to chase their
monumental winning target of 386 was more than evident as Kallis imperiously
took charge before lunch. After guiding Walsh to the third man ropes twice
in one over, Kallis then turned his attention on the West Indies spinners.
Three times he used his feet the glorious effect, three times playing
almost the indentical lofted off-drive for four. Ramanrine suffered
twice in the same over, then captain Carl Hooper was on the receiving end.
Kallis moved to his fifty shortly before lunch in a little under two and
a half hours, off 125 balls and with five fours.
The partnership for the fourth wicket was worth 66 when Neil McKenzie prodded
forward to Ramnarine and was well caught at silly point by Leon Garrick. His
55 came in four and a half hours and he struck just one four.