CAPE TOWN, 3 January 2003 — Jacques Rudolph struck a stylish century but South Africa lost a clatter of late wickets as honors were shared with West Indies on day one of the third Test at Newlands yesterday.
Rudolph’s second Test hundred was his first on home soil and helped South Africa reach 308 for six by the close after deciding to make first use of a pristine batting track. But three wickets in the last four overs of the day spoiled what would have been a fine batting performance and brought West Indies back into a game which appeared to be drifting away from them.
Rudolph was trapped lbw by debutant left-arm wrist spinner Dave Mohammed for 101 runs made in nearly five hours off 215 balls with 13 fours. It had been a chanceless innings of patience coupled with superb timing. He put on 142 for the fourth wicket with Neil McKenzie.
Nightwatchman Paul Adams soon followed, bowled by Fidel Edwards for a duck, and McKenzie perished in Mohammed’s next over, edging an innocuous short delivery onto his stumps. He made 76 in nearly three hours, facing 121 balls and hitting ten fours and a six back over Mohammed’s head.
South Africa’s other concern was the retirement of all rounder Jacques Kallis after he was struck on the right elbow by a bouncer from Edwards. X-rays revealed only bruising and swelling. Kallis will return in the South African first innings if required.
Gary Kirsten replaced Kallis and immediately looked at ease, moving fluently to 16 before top-edging a wide cut off Edwards to Adam Sanford at third man. Earlier Sanford’s double strike pegged back the South Africans. Coming on as first change and bowling medium-quick, he broke an opening partnership worth 70 when producing a superb delivery to Herschelle Gibbs (33) which swung away late to take the outside edge through to wicketkeeper Ridley Jacobs. Captain Graeme Smith followed shortly before the interval for 42, chasing a ball he might have left alone and presenting opposite number Brian Lara with a routine catch at first slip.
Kenya Leave for Their First-Ever West Indies Tour
The Kenya cricket team left for a tour of the West Indies yesterday, their first overseas tour since the Sharjah Cup in the United Arab Emirates last April. “It’s going to be a great tour for us since we will play in all the Carribean islands during the eight weeks,” said new coach Andy Moles in Nairobi.
The Kenyans will start their campaign in the series against the West Indies “A” team at St. Kitts, Antigua on Jan. 9. Their next match will be against the Leeward Islands on Jan. 16 before meeting the Brian Lara-led Trinidad and Tobago a week later.
The team, which includes three junior players, will be without the country’s top bowler Thomas Odoyo, who underwent a knee operation in December. “I’m sad to have to miss the tour but I have to save my future career,” said Odoyo. “I hope Alfred Luseno (one of the three youngsters) who takes my place in the team will be a good replacement and will learn a lot during the tour.”
The other members of the team are skipper Steve Tikolo, Martin Suji (vice-captain), Maurice Odumbe, Ravindu Shah, Kennedy Obuya, Hitesh Modi, Collins Obuya, Peter Ongondo, Brijal Patel, Lamech Onyango, Francis Otieno, Maurice Ouma and Rageb Aga.
