PORT ELIZABETH (South Africa) - Herschelle Gibbs has finally traded in his scooter for something more elaborate than the beach buggy he has had fun driving amid the sand dunes in this part of the country.

On reflection, though, Gibbs should allow Hansie Cronje to test drive the fancy four wheeler after the way the South African captain steered the ambitious, flamboyant and often attacking batsman toward his first century as limited-overs international level at St George's Park yesterday.

And while all that drama was the better part of the day's play as South Africa again mauled this hapless West Indies side, victory by 99 runs showed the tourists left Port Elizabeth wondering what bad omen was about to assail them when they reach Cape Town later today. One thing is certain as South Africa, leading 3-1 look to increase the lead, which would allow the selectors to play teenager Victor Mpitsang and possibly see who else in the bloated squad of 17 they have overlooked.

Sure, the West Indies would love nothing better than to square the series by winning the next three games at Newlands, Springbok Park (Bloemfontein) and SuperSport Centurion. No one holds much hope of any miracle emerging from the Windies dressing room as the tour enters its final week. The Calypso Collapso theme which has dogged the Caribbean visitors has now lost even the pretence of rhythm.

At least Carl Hooper, the Windies stand-in vice-captain for the injured Brian Lara made no rash promises or statements. Just one look at the sorry scorecard after his departure tells the story. Fifth out for 57 with the score at 152 midway through the 32nd over, Hopper and the rest of the Windies sat mesmerised as six wickets tumbled in 10 overs for the addition of 27 runs. Nicky Boje picked up two in succession and Cronje took the third successive wicket in an unusual ``hat-trick'' as the innings disintegrated for the umpteenth time this tour.

While Steve Elworthy's pace, lift and bounce help engineer the top-order demise to get rid of Junior Murray and the luckless Philo Wallace and Shivnarine Chanderpaul did his best to revive a lost cause, the South African total of 278 was, as we saw in Durban mid-week, far too many runs for this side. There is the impression they have about as much confidence in their ability to put a partnership together as suggesting that yet another net session will cure their batting ills and a new Sir Garfield Sobers has arrived.

For South Africa the innings was built around a record third-wicket partnership between Gibbs and his mentor of yesterday, Cronje. Statistics, unfortunately have a habit of getting in the way of quality batting performances, taking the gloss off some stylish batting and big hitting. Okay, so we first have the for the record bit: Gibbs, better known to his teammates and buddies as Scooter, scores 125 at a brisk rate (146 balls); it was the highest South African LOI innings against the West Indies; the partnership of 160 beat the record held by Crone and Daryll Cullinan against Australia at Centurion only a couple of seasons ago. It is South Africa's highest against the Windies.

They even packed in a full house: something they couldn't do for the Test; Nicky Boje's three for 33 in eight overs are his best at this level. And so on ... Yet, during the partnership with Cronje, there was the impression Gibbs would give it away once he passed the sticky thirties. Cronje came down the pitch (it is too difficult to go down the wicket) and talked him through various patches of his innings. He hit well and cleanly enough through the line, helped rotate the scoring and generally was in command of his game, despite losing his captain at 181 for a big-hitting 74 off an many balls with two big sixes. - the first clearing the new stand.

It is, as Cronje said before the series started, all you need is for a big innings (or two) or an exceptional bowling spell. Gibbs provided, with Cronje, the run-making to stretch the imagination and the way he was nursed through the 50s and beyond says much Gibbs being a good listener and Cronje for passing on sound advice. And this after South Africa at 21 for two with Cullinan and Jacques Kallis back in the pavilion, looked candidates for a defeat.

Kallis, by the way, managed prodigious swing from the white Duke's ball was also an interesting exercise.

In the end South Africa were a couple of batsmen too good and the bowling was just that much better.