Johan Botha provided the answer to the problems the Proteas have had with the West Indies left-handed top order on the opening day of the final cricket Test at Kensington Oval on Saturday.
The off-spinner, brought into the side at the expense of Lonwabo Tsotsobe in a horses-for-courses selection, bowled the key spell of the day in the hour after lunch to dismiss the left-handed trio of Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Brendan Nash (both centurions at St Kitts) and Narsingh Deonarine to send the home side reeling to 105/5.
Earlier Morne Morkel and Dale Steyn had taken a wicket each in their respective new ball spells.
Botha went on to finish with career best figures of 4/56 (19.5 overs) in his third Test match before Jacques Kallis and Steyn took over with a brutal short-pitched attack to dismiss the West Indies
for 231.
Kallis had started the Botha mini-collapse with a brilliant left-handed catch at slip when Chanderpaul flicked at a drive outside the off-stump and, as is his wont, opened the face of the bat to get a thick low edge that travelled at pace.
South Africa’s world-leading all-rounder was right on top of his game and, when he came back for his second spell, he put an end to a frustrating sixth-wicket partnership of 76 between Dwayne Bravo
and Dinesh Ramdin. He followed up with the wicket of Shane Shillingford as well and both the latter and Bravo took nasty blows to the body as well.
One of Kallis’ deliveries was clocked at 150km/h in a spell of hostility and purpose.
Once Kallis was rested, Steyn finished the demolition job (3/37 in 13 overs) leaving the Proteas with 14 overs to bat to the close.
They lost both Alviro Petersen and Hashim Amla to loose shots during this period (the one caught at midwicket on the pull and the other at point on the cut) but nevertheless could feel well satisfied with their day.
The Proteas finished on 46/2 for an overall deficit of 185.
There is already some turn to be had and, unlike at St Kitts, the footmarks caused surface abrasions from the very first over. The spinners will clearly become dominant as the match progresses so
the Proteas will want to bat once only and to make a big score. By doing so they will nullify the advantage the West Indies gained through winning the toss. – Sapa