Makhaya Ntini barely avoided being axed before he turned into the hero of South Africa’s eight-wicket win over the West Indies on Tuesday.
Ntini took a career-best seven for 37, including four for three runs to rout the home side’s tail, and set up a comfortable chase for victory. His match figures of 13-132 became the best in South Africa’s test history, and earned him the man of the match award.
South Africa coach Ray Jennings admitted he threatened his ace fast bowler with the axe after his wicketless effort in the drawn first test in Guyana.
”We started the tour and Makhaya didn’t show the aggression that I wanted from him,” Jennings said. ”I sat him down and I said to him, at the end of the day, if he doesn’t give me that performance I’d have to drop him.
”I think he’s woken up, he’s got a fright.
”That’s probably why I’m unpopular, because I seem to challenge the guys in certain ways,” Jennings added. ”If that’s going to lead to performances like today’s, I’m quite happy to do that.”
The previous best bowling for South Africa was by offspinner Hugh Tayfield, who claimed 13-165 against Australia in Melbourne in 1952.
Ntini also claimed the best innings figures for South Africa against the West Indies, beating Jacques Kallis’ 6-66 in Bridgetown in 2001. He has 217 wickets from 57 tests since 1998.
”I knew coming out of Guyana, he was raging a bit because he didn’t bowl as well as expected. He worked hard this week and he’s reaped the rewards,” said captain Graeme Smith. – Sapa-AP