1st Test: West Indies v South Africa at Guyana, 9-13 Mar 2001 CricInfo Live Report

1st Test: West Indies v South Africa at Guyana, 9-13 Mar 2001
MWP

South Africa 2nd innings: Lunch - Day 5, Tea - Day 5,
Live Reports from previous days

GUYANA TEST HEADS FOR DRAW

Only a spectacular batting collapse or divine bowling can inspire the West Indies to victory in the first Test against South Africa after the tourists batted through a tough afternoon session to reach 100-1 at tea, still 206 runs away from a victory that was never a realistic proposition but a maximum of just 31 overs away from safety.

Gary Kirsten was the only casualty of the afternoon session but having batted for 31 overs and faced 101 balls, he could safely claim to have contributed his bit to ensuring the draw.

It was a fine delivery from Dinanath Ramnarine that snared him, too, as the ball fizzed and popped from the rough outside Kirsten's off stump jumping from the pad and brushing the splice of the bat before landing in Wavell Hinds' hands at forward short leg.

Herschelle Gibbs (59) reached a streaky half century from 106 deliveries shortly before tea while Jacques Kallis took advantage of a couple of poor deliveries from the spinners to reach 16 not out at the break.

The best performance of the session, however, came from West Indian umpire Ed Nicholls who made half-a-dozen brilliant decisions under intense pressure.

Both Courtney Walsh and Nixon McLean beat Gibbs between bat and pad with rapid off-cutters and both went up furiously for legitimate appeals. With the aid of several television replays it could be seen that the ball flicked Gibbs' thigh pad on both occasions and Nicholls got it right first time, real time.

Gibbs was also grateful for Nicholls' wisdom with a couple of huge bat-pad catches when the spinners, Ramnarine and Hooper were bowling, but in between times he played some exquisite attacking shots including a remarkable, head-high hook against Nixon McLean which flew over mid on for a dramatic four.

SOUTH AFRICA SET UNLIKELY TARGET FOR VICTORY

Carl Hooper's dream start as captain of the West Indies finally came to an end with a potentially crucial dropped catch on the final morning of the first Test against South Africa at the Bourda on Tuesday as the tourists reached lunch on 27-0 chasing an unlikely 306 for victory.

Herchelle Gibbs, whose flying start to an unbeaten 21 from just 28 balls may have convinced some people that a South African victory is possible, edged a fine Merv Dillon delivery to second slip but Hooper's hands let him down and he sat disconsolately on the ground as the ball rolled away to the boundary.

Gary Kirsten appears to have picked up where he left off in the first innings and has rarely been troubled on a pitch that will undoubtedly assist Dinanath Ramnarine's leg spin but has been of little help to the faster bowlers on the final two days.

South Africa's target was set up after the home side continued their second innings for a further 12 overs on the final morning moving from their overnight 286-4 to 333-7 before Hooper's declaration.

The captain himself was the first to go after extravagantly trying cut a Nicky Boje delivery that pitched outside his leg stump. The shot required extraordinary footwork but, sadly, resulted only in him carving the ball to Daryll Cullinan at backward point to depart for 35.

The 20-year-old Ramnaresh Sarwan was denied a maiden century by the brilliance of Gibbs who swooped impossibly to pick up one-handed at square leg and throw to Mark Boucher who removed the bails as the batsman sprawled in the dust.

Sarwan's memorable 91 came from 180 balls and contained nine boundaries. He will get another chance, that seems certain.

Nixon McLean had the dubious, bizarre honour of facing one ball before the declaration. He was trapped LBW by it to give Boje figures of 3-93 in 37 overs.