Kallis, Prince Put South Africa Back in Charge

Author: 
Agence France Presse
Publication Date: 
Sun, 2005-05-01 03:00

ST. JOHN’S, Antigua, 1 May 2005 — South Africa re-estalished their superiority after lunch, and reached 410 for four at tea on the second day of the fourth and final Test against West Indies yesterday.

At the break, Jacques Kallis was not out on 74 and left-hander Ashwell Prince was not out on 60, after South Africa continued from their lunchtime position of 295 for four.

Kallis and Prince helped their side restore order with a stand of 115 for the fifth wicket that occupied the entire period between lunch and tea that was extended by half-hour to compensate for the time lost the previous day because of rain.

Kallis reached his 50 when he flicked an over-pitched delivery from Daren Powell through square leg for the fifth of his eight fours from 160 balls in 3-3 4 hours of unflappable batting.

He also struck one six.

Prince gave him good support and crossed 50 when he edged a delivery from Dwight Washington to third man for a single. He has struck seven fours and one six from 126 balls in 2-1 2 hours.

On nine, there was an anxious moment for Prince though.

On the backfoot and driving at one of Chris Gayle’s off-spin darts, West Indies appealed loudly for a catch to the keeper that was denied by umpire Billy Bowden.

In the middle of the afternoon, he again gave the West Indies an adrenalin rush, when on 25, he mistimed a pull off Tino Best, and the ball soared high over the head of the mid-on fielder. The two South African batsmen punctuated periods of watchfulness with some searing strokes, none sweeter than an extra cover drive from Prince off Powell, armed with the second new ball.

Before lunch, purposeful bowling had breathed new life back into the West Indies’ hopes, when they snared three wickets for six runs in the space of 20 balls, after South Africa continued from their overnight position of 214 without loss.

Opening batsmen Graeme Smith, the South Africa captain, and AB de Villiers continued from where they left off.

Smith and de Villiers played a few spanking strokes, but the tide started to shift, when Washington dropped the return chance that de Villiers offered on 105.

A few overs later, Best made the long-awaited breakthrough for the home team, when de Villiers was caught behind for 114, gloving a short, rising ball down the legside.

De Villiers hit 13 fours and one six from 173 balls in just under 4-1 4 hours during which time he shared 245 for the first wicket with Smith. West Indies were able to bag two more wickets that lifted their mood.

The left-handed Smith drove uncertainly at an awkwardly bouncing delivery from Daren Powell in the next over and was caught at mid-on for 126 that contained 19 boundaries from 173 balls in a little over 4-1 4 hours.

Almost three overs later, West Indies gained a bonus wicket, when Boeta Dippenaar was run out going for a third run, and Kallis sent him back. The batsman flicked a delivery from Best to wide long-on and mid-wicket fielder Narsingh Deonarine chased the ball down, and hurled his return to the bowler, who relayed it wicketkeeper Courtney Browne to complete the dismissal that left South Africa 251 for three.

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