Skipper Graeme Smith and Herschelle Gibbs hit a record third 300-run partnership Friday as South Africa reached 302 for one wicket on the first day of the fourth and final test against West Indies at Supersport Park.
The pair reached the milestone in the 66th over, having previously made triple century stands against England and Pakistan. The previous record of two 300-run partnerships was held jointly by Australia's Sir Donald Bradman and Bill Ponsford, and India's Rahul Dravid and V.V.S. Laxman.
Smith fell for 139 to a tired prod outside the off stump, edging an easy catch off Corey Collymore to wicketkeeper Ridley Jacobs.
PHOTO: AFP
But Gibbs was still there when bad light stopped play after 67.1 of a possible 90 overs, also on 139. He was accompanied by third-test centurion Jacques Rudolph, who had just a single.
It was a poor day in the field for West Indies, after skipper Brian Lara won the toss and put South Africa in to bat on a well-grassed pitch under cloudy skies as he tried to pull one match back in a series already won 2-0 by South Africa.
Lara's bowlers, with the initial exception of Mervyn Dillon, were unable to maintain a consistent line. Smith in particular took full toll, as he regularly pierced a thinly populated leg side.
South Africa reached 241 without loss at tea as Smith, who scored his sixth test century, was undefeated on 118, and Gibbs, who struck his third against the tourists, reached 102.
Smith started much faster than Gibbs, reaching his century off 125 balls in 192 minutes, hitting 17 fours and a six. Gibbs, who has showed maturity in this series, took 182 balls in 240 minutes, hitting 13 fours and a six.
Gibbs accelerated well after reaching his 50, taking just 66 balls to move on to his 100 and soon drawing level with Smith.
It was a chanceless session till tea for South Africa's opening pair after they overcame a shaky start to steer South Africa to 70 without loss at lunch.
On a pitch that looked like it would give great assistance to seam bowlers, Gibbs reached 33 and Smith 29 by lunch in a rain-shortened first session.
With just half an hour lost, the pair still had to weather some accurate bowling form, particularly from Dillon. But with Fidel Edwards a bit wild from the other end, a lot of the pressure Dillon built up was released.
The grassy pitch made batting difficult, and it showed when Smith was nearly run out in a calling mix-up while trying to rotate the strike.
But there were enough loose deliveries for both batsmen to capitalize.
New Zealand versus Pakistan
Hamish Marshall made 84, Craig McMillan 81 from as many balls as New Zealand reached 307-8 batting first in its fifth one-day cricket international against Pakistan on Saturday.
A complete batting performance carried New Zealand to its highest total in one-day matches in New Zealand, its highest against Pakistan, and left the tourists needing 6.16 runs per over to win.
Marshall reached his fifth half century in 10 one-day internationals, all of which have been against Pakistan, and maintained a young career average of 52 runs per innings.
He put on 157 with McMillan for the fourth wicket to set New Zealand on course for a huge total after it had begun to lose its way at 73-3 in the 16th over.
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