Shaun Pollock made a successful return to Test cricket and captain Graeme Smith smashed a century as South Africa dominated the first day of the series-deciding third Test against the West Indies at Kingsmead on Thursday.
Pollock took 4-35 as the West Indies were bowled out for 139 after being sent in to bat. South Africa surged into the lead before close of play, reaching 213-1 when bad light stopped play.
Smith was on 122 not out, made off 133 balls.
Veteran all-rounder Pollock, in his first Test appearance in almost a year, took advantage of an under-prepared pitch and overcast conditions as the West Indies were bundled out.
Smith turned the day into a lop-sided one in favour of the home country as he charged to his 13th Test hundred off 112 balls.
The West Indies, already without injured captain Chris Gayle, were effectively a bowler short because stand-in captain Dwayne Bravo went into the match with a side strain.
”He is playing as captain and batsman,” said West Indian media liaison officer Philip Spooner.
Pollock (34) did not play in South Africa’s first six Test matches of the season because of concerns that he had lost some of the pace that had helped him take 416 wickets in 107 Tests.
But South Africa decided to pick an all-seam attack for the series decider in Pollock’s home town on a pitch that usually favours pace bowlers, bringing back Pollock ahead of left-arm spinner Paul Harris.
Pollock came on to bowl in the sixth over and almost immediately had the batsmen struggling. He struck with his 13th delivery when he trapped Runako Morton leg before with an off-cutter and followed up with the wickets of new cap Brenton Parchment and Bravo, both caught at gully by Herschelle Gibbs.
He also ended the West Indies’ best partnership, 42 for the eighth wicket between Darren Sammy and Jerome Taylor, when Taylor was caught at fine leg.
Gibbs, who was dropped for the second Test but returned to the side because of an injury to Neil McKenzie, held three catches. The first, to dismiss Parchment, was a spectacular effort when he flung himself full length to his right.
Parchment made his Test debut in place of Gayle, who could not play because of a broken left thumb as well as a hamstring injury.
Andre Nel took 3-45 and Makhaya Ntini 2-30. Ntini captured the key wicket of Shivnarine Chanderpaul, whose run of form ended when he was caught at second slip for a duck. Chanderpaul made 247 runs in the first two Tests at an average of 123,50.
The top six batsmen managed only 34 runs between them as they struggled against a swinging ball, but the lower order gave some respectability to the scorecard as the conditions eased, with the sun breaking through.
Denesh Ramdin top scored with 30, going for his shots and making his runs off 25 balls with five fours; Darren Sammy made 28 and Jerome Taylor a Test-best 25.
Smith and Gibbs got the South African innings off to a fast start, putting on 53 for the first wicket off 52 balls. Gibbs hit some glorious cover drives and a square cut for six as he raced to 27 off 22 balls before dragging an attempted pull against Daren Powell on to his stumps.
Smith continued to dominate with powerful shots on both sides of the wicket. His century included 19 fours.
Hashim Amla provided sensible support, scoring 55 not out in an unbeaten second wicket partnership of 160. — AFP
