His fine for obscene gestures notwithstanding, South African pace bowler Andre Nel is set to play a vital role in getting up the West Indies’ noses when the Boxing Day Test gets under way at Kingsmead on Friday. Nel proved to be a revelation in the first Test, finally matching his machismo with quick and aggressive bowling.

Makhaya Ntini may have drawn level with Stuart MacGill as the leading wicket taker in the world this year, but of far more importance to the seamer is being the leading wicket taker in whatever series he is playing in for South Africa. Ntini took five for 94 in the West Indies first innings at the Wanderers on Monday morning.

South African pace bowler Makhaya Ntini struck three times in three overs on Monday to leave the West Indies tottering on 31 for three and in grave danger of losing the first Test at the Wanders. At stumps on day four, the Windies still needed 347 runs with seven second-innings wickets in hand for an unlikely victory.

South Africa’s much-maligned pace attack rushed through the West Indies batting line-up to help the hosts win the first Test by 189 runs at the Wanderers on Tuesday. The Windies, in pursuit of a wildly unrealistic 378 for victory, were bowled out for 188 midway through the afternoon session on the fifth and final day.

West Indies cricket captain Brian Lara, who made 178 not out against South Africa on Sunday, said he was inspired by the exploits of Indian batsman Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman in Adelaide earlier in the day. Lara led a rousing fightback on the third day of the first Test at the Wanderers.

National cricket coach Eric Simons brushed aside criticism on Wednesday that the South African bowling attack will struggle to dismiss the West Indies twice in a Test match. South Africa meets the Windies in the first of four Tests at the Wanderers on Friday in a series many believe will be a battle between the respective batting line-ups.

Free State, after a shaky start where they lost two wickets for five runs, held out to draw their cricket tour match against the injury-plagued 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.

West Indies cricket coach Gus Logie was forced to take to the field twice on Sunday after the tourists’ stretched player resources came under renewed pressure. After dominating the opening two days of the encounter, the Windies came under pressure for the first time on Sunday when the Free State tail wagged vigorously.

Lance Klusener’s chances of forcing his way back into the South African cricket side were boosted significantly on Tuesday when one of his main detractors, national skipper Graeme Smith, offered him an olive branch. ”We’ve both said things about each other,” said Smith, ”and some of it’s probably been blown up a bit.”

After 10 attempts, and on the back of a superb bowling display from Andrew Hall, Easterns finally overcame their voodoo team, Boland, in a limited-overs cricket match at Willowmoore Park on Sunday. The hosts won the encounter by four runs after they restricted Boland to 193 for seven in pursuit of Easterns’ 197 for eight.