Day Three: Tea – close of play

Carl Hooper is 74 not out, his fourth Test half-century since being made captain, and his 22nd overall; the West Indies, battling hard to bring themselves back into this Third Test, are 252-5 at the close of a tremendously entertaining third day. Wicket-keeper Ridley Jacobs is 14 not out. The West Indies now need only another two runs to save the follow-on.

Brian Lara fell with just seven overs left in the day, after making a wonderful 83. His 31st Test half-century contained 13 tremendous boundaries as he mixed good defence with useful, intelligent aggression.

Just when he was set to record his second Test century at the Kensington Oval, that stupendous 153 not out against Australia in 1999 being the only other, Jacques Kallis, South Africa's most aggressive bowler, induced Lara to pull at a short delivery, and Nicky Boje at mid-wicket took the catch, 218-5.

Hooper and Lara came together midway between lunch and tea when Ramnaresh Sarwan drove airily at Makhaya Ntini and was caught at cover by Herschelle Gibbs; 102-4, Sarwan 16.

The assembled were then treated to a tremendous display of batsmanship as Lara and Hooper, two of the best batsmen in the world when it is their day, put on 116 important runs for the fifth wicket.

Known as (Sir) Carl in Barbados, Hooper looked more like Sir Everton (Weekes), playing some tremendous drives, especially through mid-on and mid-wicket, to hit eleven classy fours so far. More particularly, he seemed to have relinquished the past trait of giving the bowler a chance, so unorthodox has he played in the past. The new responsibilities have done him good. There is more care in his stroke-play.

Lara, who had survived a prolonged look by the Television Umpire for an edge that was adjudged not to have carried to wicket-keeper Mark Boucher, when the left-hander was on 22, played with superb timing to show some of his class.

South Africa took the second new ball immediately it was due, after 80 overs, and at least got Lara's wicket with it.

Hooper must now play the captain's role fully to see the West Indies to within reach of South Africa's 454.

Jacques Kallis has been the best South African bowler, with 3-52 from 21 tough overs, while Makhaya Ntini has 2-51 from 17 overs. The battle is far from over.

Lunch – Tea

Brian Lara, whose public were confused into silence when he dropped a sitter, from Darryl Cullinan, at mid-wicket on Day two, is doing all he can to win back the friendship of his fans. He has been rather watchful for his 35 so far, hitting five careful boundaries, perhaps setting stock for a long innings. Carl Hooper is 11, the West Indies 120-4 at tea.

At lunch, the West Indies were precariously placed at 60-3, with Lara on six, Ramnaresh Sarwan on one. The pair continued their efforts to resurrect the West Indies innings for about an hour after the first break, taking the score to 102-3, running well between the wickets.

Then, Shaun Pollock brought Makhaya Ntini back for his second spell, Ntini having disposed of opener Chris Gayle earlier. Then, it all happened then in a flash.

Ntini sped in for his first delivery of a new spell; Sarwan drove well, but uppishly, the screaming catch taken with some nonchalance by Herschelle Gibbs at cover point.

Sarwan, having put on 45 with Lara for the fourth-wicket, and having survived a vociferous appeal for caught behind from the bowling of the luckless Jacques Kallis, was gone for 16; West Indies 102-4.

Earlier, Brian Lara, then on 22, had the run of luck, when, after about two minutes of deliberation, the Television Umpire ruled that the delivery that he had edged from Shaun Pollock's bowling had not carried on the full to wicket-keeper Mark Boucher, despite South Africa's suggestion to the contrary.

It is still an uphill task for the West Indies to get to the 255 needed to avoid the follow-on, but at least, they have their most experienced batsmen, Hooper, with 83 Tests and Lara, with 78 Tests, still at the crease.

Start of Play – Lunch

At lunch on Day three, South Africa had taken more of the initiative, after their massive first innings score of 454. With aggressive bowling, and perhaps some irresponsible stroke-play from the West Indies, three West Indian batsmen were back in the showers.

Starting the day on 7-0, the West Indies probably had indigestion at lunch on 60-3. Brian Lara, perhaps owing his team some runs, and from whom much is expected in this situation, was five not out, while Ramnaresh Sarwan was on one.

The first hour belonged to West Indian opener Chris Gayle and South African all-rounder Jacques Kallis. With his second ball of the innings, Kallis deceived the uncomfortable Wavell Hinds with some away movement, inducing the left-handed batsman to edge juicily to wicket-keeper Mark Boucher; Hinds out for two: West Indies 37-1.

Gayle, on the other hand, tall and elegant, was assured in his driving, especially on the off-side, hitting eight glorious boundaries in his exciting stay of 40. Then, Makaya Ntini was introduced, and after ignoring a few deliveries outside off stump, Gayle nibbled at another outside and Darryl Cullinan at first slip made no mistake. Gayle: out for 40; West Indies 49-2 and wobbly.

Marlon Samuels spanked a boundary, then succumbed to the South African trap. He tried to hook a Kallis delivery, the uncontrolled shot spooning to Neil McKenzie at mid-on. If the West Indies were wobbling at 49-2, then they were definitely worse off at 57-3.

South Africa's 454 in their first innings was due mainly to some great contributions from Darryl Cullinan, whose 134 was his second century in as many Tests, having made 103 and 73 to be "Man of the Match" of the second Test, and to captain Shaun Pollock, batting at No. 9, who made a wonderfully controlled 106 not out, batting for four hours.

Pollock owed much to Alan Donald, since Pollock was only eight not out when Donald came to the crease. They then produced the best ninth-wicket partnership for South Africa v West Indies Tests, 132. More importantly, Donald managed his highest Test score to date; he made 37; surpassing his 34, made against the West Indies in 1998.

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