Hundreds from captain Graeme Smith and fellow opener Abraham de Villiers put South Africa in a strong position in the third Test against West Indies on Friday.
De Villiers was undefeated on 122 and Smith was dismissed for 104 to lead South Africa to 253 for one, replying to the West Indies’ first-innings total of 296, when stumps were drawn on the second day.
The two batsmen shared 191 for the first wicket to put the South Africans on course to gain a first-innings lead.
Smith, who was hampered by a leg injury and used a runner after tea, was the first of the two batsmen to reach his milestone, when he pulled a short ball from Daren Powell through mid wicket for four.
A few overs after collecting his 10th Test hundred, Smith was caught in the deep trying to clear mid-on with one of Chris Gayle’s off-spin darts. He hit a dozen fours and one six from 203 balls in a little more than four-and-a-half hours.
When he departed, De Villiers was within reach of his milestone and finally achieved his second Test hundred when he drove a delivery from Reon King to mid-off for a single.
Just prior to the close, De Villiers almost chanced his hand once too often. Hooking at a short, rising ball from Fidel Edwards, he top-edged a delivery to long leg, but King failed to get under it.
De Villiers survived until the close to smash a dozen fours and one six from 236 balls in just less than six hours and added 62, unbroken, for the second wicket with Boeta Dippenaar, who was not out on 23.
Before this, Smith and De Villiers had consolidated their side’s position with resolute batting. Hardly a ball beat their bats and they defied everything the West Indies threw at them, including some hostile stuff from Edwards.
Smith was fortunate, however. On 25, he square drove low to cover-point, but Dwayne Bravo could not hold on to the catch.
Before lunch, both had some close calls. Twice, Smith left alone deliveries that swung back dangerously close to his off-stump, and De Villiers mistimed a hook at a short ball from Edwards that fell just short of the mid-on fielder.
Earlier, the South Africans needed just 4,2 overs in about 20 minutes to wrap up the West Indies’ innings, after the home team resumed from their overnight total of 292 for seven.
Fast-bowlers Andre Nel and Monde Zondeki shared the last three wickets to both end with four wickets for 56 and 50 respectively.
Zondeki made the breakthrough when he had Daren Powell caught behind for three, and added the wicket of Edwards, who was caught at short leg for two fending away a short, rising ball.
Nel brought the innings to a close when Courtney Browne miscued a hook and was caught inside the deep fine leg boundary for five.
South Africa lead the four-Test series 1-0, after winning the second Test at Port of Spain by eight wickets.
The first Test at Georgetown was drawn, and the fourth and final Test, at St John’s, begins on April 29.
South Africa will be looking to win their fourth straight series against West Indies, and their first road trip in two years. — AFP
