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Windies, S Africa do battle in batting collapse drama

South African batsman Jacques Kallis reached an undefeated 77 at tea yesterday to guide South Africa to 138-4 on the fourth day of the first of three Tests against the West Indies.

South Africa were in pursuit of 389 for victory, but slumped to 45-4 immediately after lunch with the dismissal of Ashwell Prince, caught for 10 at first slip by West Indies captain Chris Gayle off the bowling of Jerome Taylor.

Kallis was joined in an unbroken 93-run partnership by A.B. de Villiers, who was on 31 at tea, to frustrate the West Indies' attempt at their first-ever Test victory in 10 attempts on South African soil.

Kallis hit eight fours off 113 balls, taking advantage of some wayward bowling. De Villiers was more sedate, hitting four boundaries in 86 deliveries.

West Indies fast bowler Fidel Edwards removed South Africa captain Graeme Smith and top-order batsman Hashim Amla before lunch to have South Africa battling at 45-3.

The West Indies batsmen added 29 runs to their overnight total of 146 to reach 175, before Paul Harris removed Daren Powell for six and Jerome Taylor holed out to Andre Nel after scoring 22 off 28 balls.

Harris finished with figures of 4-35, and Dale Steyn had 3-67.

South Africa started their second innings at St. George's Park needing 389 to win after the West Indies scored 408 in their first innings and dismissed South Africa for 195.

Herschelle Gibbs was the first to go, trapped leg before wicket by Daren Powell for his second duck in the match.

Amla scored just 8 runs before driving at a swinging delivery from Edwards to give wicketkeeper Denesh Ramdin an easy catch. Smith managed 11 before Darren Ganga made a diving catch from short leg.

Edwards had 2-19 at tea, Taylor 1-24 and Powell 1-35.

"It's a great Test to come from behind to win," South African batsman Jacques Kallis said. "We've got the batters to go out there and do it. We've batted in far worse conditions and got bigger scores."

But West Indian vice-captain Dwayne Bravo was confident the West Indies already had enough runs on the board.

"We are happy that we can defend 300 with our bowling unit," Bravo said.

Bravo said the pressure would be on South Africa as the home side, who had started the match as hot favorites.

The West Indian collapse was started by a direct-hit run-out by Herschelle Gibbs to dismiss Daren Ganga for 45. Fast bowler Dale Steyn took three wickets and left-arm spinner Paul Harris two as the momentum shifted dramatically in the last hour of play.

"That's the way the guys have been bowling all season," Kallis said.

He said the bowling performance would inspire the batsmen.

"It was disappointing the way we got out in the first innings. We all know as a batting unit that we were far below par. The bowlers showed they can correct what happened in the first innings and the batters want to do the same," Kallis said.

West Indian captain Chris Gayle decided not to enforce the follow-on and got the second innings off to a blazing start before he was caught behind off Makhaya Ntini for 29 off 22 balls.

Although Runako Morton was out cheaply, Ganga and Samuels put on 65 for the third wicket to put their side in a dominant position.

Ganga and Samuels were out in successive overs but they had ensured that South Africa would be set a target bigger than the best they have previously achieved in the fourth innings of a Test match -- 340 for five against Australia in 2001-2002.
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