Windies cut loose, SA go defensive
Agence France-Presse

Georgetown, March 13: Carl Hooper and Ramnaresh Sarwan launched a late assault on South Africa’s bowling to leave the West Indies scenting victory at close on the fourth day of the first Test here yesterday.

Hooper and Sarwan shared an unbeaten stand of 76 to leave the West Indies 258 runs ahead on 286 for four at stumps at the Bourda ground. Most of their runs came at the end of a frenetic final session, with both batsmen cutting loose to hammer 62 runs off the final 11 overs of the day.

At close veteran Hooper stood on 31 not out with 20-year-old Sarwan on an unbeaten 71.

Their stand started after the second new ball was due but as in the first innings South African captain Shaun Pollock opted to stay with the old one, with run-scoring having proved difficult on a slow surface.

His decision backfired, though, as Hooper and Sarwan went on the attack.Earlier, fast bowlers Allan Donald and Makhaya Ntini were the pick of a disciplined bowling combination.

Despite the late run chase, their efforts ensured that West Indies will have to bat on into the final day, reducing the number of over they will be able to bowl at the South Africans in the final innings.

South Africa missed a chance of a crucial break through when star batsman Lara was dropped before he had scored. Neil McKenzie put down sharp chance at short leg off Nicky Boje. For a while it seemed Lara would make the tourists pay for their lapse. He made 37 of a 50-run stand with Marlon Samuels in 62 minutes but the runs dried up and Lara added only eight more in another 45 minutes before the pressure finally told and he hit a tame catch to extra cover off Makhay Ntini.

Scoreboard
West Indies (1st innings) 304
South Africa (1st innings) 332
West Indies (2nd innings): Wavel Hinds c Boucher b Donald 14, Chris Gayle c Boucher b Boje 44, Marlon Samuels b Kallis 51, Brian Lara c Pollock b Ntini 45, Ramnaresh Sarwan batting 71, Carl Hooper batting 31. Extras: (b-14, lb-7, w-1, nb-8) 30
Total: (For 4 wkts, in 105 overs) 286 Fall of wickets: 1-51, 2-78, 3-147, 4-210;
Bowling: Allan Donald 20-8-51-1, Shaun Pollock 17-4-51-0, Jacques Kallis 15-2-36-1, Nicky Boje 31-10-80-1, Makhya Ntini 14-5-20-1, Lance Klusener 8-1-27-0

Copyright © 2001 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.