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On the evidence of recent experiences, Ridley Jacobs might have felt a Test century was something of a distant reality.

Twice in the last six Tests, the reliable West Indies wicket/keeper batsman was left stranded in the 90s against two of world cricket's most powerful teams.

On reaching the elusive milestone at Kensington Oval yesterday, it was understandable that he was relieved.

It is a very good feeling when you score your first hundred. Having been stranded in the 90s twice, it's good to get out of them and score a hundred. I'm very happy, he said after his unbeaten 113 that breathed new life into the West Indies on the fourth day of the third Cable & Wireless Test against South Africa.

In the preceding Test at the Queen's Park Oval, Jacobs featured in the late innings West Indies rally before no one was left to bat with him and he remained unbeaten on 93.

In the second Test of the previous series against Australia at Perth, he again spearheaded a West Indies revival, but was left high and dry on 96.

He could again have been denied a hundred had the South Africans asked a question when he was approaching the milestone yesterday afternoon.

Television replays suggested Jacobs might have edged a catch to the keeper off Makhaya Ntini, but not a single player on the field appealed.

When asked if he thought he had snicked the ball, Jacobs said: There was a possibility, but I left it to the umpire.

He duly reached his century off the next ball when he deposited Ntini into the Hall & Griffith Stand for his fourth six in an innings which also included 11 fours off 208 balls.

His hundred was the first by a West Indian wicket-keeper since Junior Murray's unbeaten 101 against New Zealand at Wellington in 1995 and the first by a West Indian in nine Tests against South Africa.

It was against the South Africans Jacobs belatedly made his Test debut on his 31st birthday. And while most West Indian batsmen failed miserably in that 1998-99 series, Jacobs was the exception.

The South Africans are very good bowlers. They come in after you. I like the challenge, he said.

Another challenge he relishes is his new role as West Indies vice- captain.

Once you get that position in anything that you do, you have to live up to it and I think I did a very good job and I very pleased, he said. This is Test cricket and you have to be at your best at all times. It's a hard game and you've got to be tough.

Now aged 33, Jacobs is supremely fit and there are some who are suggesting he could play until he is about 40.

I'm not sure. It all depends on the Almighty. Whatever decision He makes, l'll accept.

Everyone accepted his effort yesterday.

© The Barbados Nation