Free State, after a shaky start where they lost two wickets for five runs, held out to draw their cricket tour match against the West Indies at Goodyear Park on Monday.
When play was called off during the third session, Free State had moved to 97 for two, having recovered from a jittery 16 for two.
With the first Test in Johannesburg just four days away, forcing a result was, however, never the Windies’ intention.
To this end they decided against forcing the follow on Sunday and opted for extended batting practice, making 289 for three, scored at a touch over four to the over.
In the process of extending their lead to an enormous 643, Daren Ganga moved to 101 and Carlton Baugh hammered an unbeaten 158 from 154 balls.
Of far more concern than the result to the Windies is the mounting injury toll within the squad.
At tea it was learnt that Omari Banks would become the third West Indian within a week to return to the Caribbean with a serious injury.
According to West Indian team manager Ricky Skerrit, Banks suffered a stress fracture of the back — this after pace bowler Jerome Taylor had to quit the tour with a knee injury and top-order batsman Marlon Samuels was sent home with a back injury.
While Dave Mohammed will replace Taylor and Dwayne Smith will come in for Samuels, Skerrit said there was no decision yet on Banks’s replacement.
Injuries aside, and in an otherwise dreary day of cricket, Baugh provided virtually all the excitement.
So fluent was his run-making that the reserve wicketkeeper was able to achieve the rare distinction of smashing a century before lunch.
Baugh came to the wicket in the third over of the day after Ramnaresh Sarwan was dismissed for a single. One-hundred-and-thirteen minutes and 92 balls later, the Jamaican had moved to his third first-class hundred, hammering 14 fours and two sixes in the process.
Having raced to 84 at significantly less than a run a ball, Baugh slowed down and looked in danger of not making it to three figures before the break.
However, Rayno Arendse was tossed the ball, possibly because it was his 25th birthday.
Arendse responded by bowling three consecutive deliveries halfway down the track in an over that eventually cost 15 runs.
In spite of his success, Baugh, who belted five sixes, is unlikely to be selected for the first Test. — Sapa