3rd Test: South Africa vs West Indies at Durban

[Ljp86]

3rd Test: South Africa vs West Indies at Durban

This match has just got underway. The series is one-all with this being the final and deciding game. Both teams will go hard in this match.

South Africa have made one change. Spinner Paul Harris has been left out while Shaun Pollock comes in to replace Harris in the eleven. That means South Africa's sole spinning option is the skipper, Graeme Smith who has been known to bowl a few offies when needed.

The Windies have made two changes. Brenton Parchment is in for Chris Gayle who is injured and Rawl Lewis has been dropped for Darren Sammy. Dwayne Bravo is captaining the West Indies in Gayle's absence.

South Africa XI: 1 *Graeme Smith, 2 Herschelle Gibbs, 3 Hashim Amla, 4 Jacques Kallis, 5 Ashwell Prince, 6 AB de Villiers, 7 +Mark Boucher, 8 Shaun Pollock, 9 Andre Nel, 10 Dale Steyn, 11 Makhaya Ntini,

West Indies XI: 1 Brenton Parchment, 2 Daren Ganga, 3 Runako Morton, 4 Marlon Samuels, 5 Shivnarine Chanderpaul, 6 *Dwayne Bravo, 7 +Denesh Ramdin, 8 Darren Sammy, 9 Jerome Taylor, 10 Daren Powell, 11 Fidel Edwards


South Africa won the toss and elected to bowl. So far, West Indies are 0/1 after the first over. Daren Ganga has the solitary run so far from the first ball of the match.

 

[Ljp86]

Re: 3rd Test: South Africa vs West Indies at Durban

West Indies were bowled out for a very disappointing 139. The major destroyer was Shaun Pollock who took 4/35 in his first test back after being dropped, why he was even dropped in the first place is a puzzle in itself. Andre Nel took 3/45 but was expensive, conceding over six an over.

Denesh Ramdin was the only better that scored 30 or over, scoring exactly 30, Darren Sammy scored 28 and Jerome Taylor made 25 after the Windies were reeling at one point at 5/33.

In reply, South Africa have complete control, reaching 1/213 at stumps. Graeme Smith scored 122 not out in rather quick style, signalling a return to form for him. Hashim Amla is the anchor, 55 not out at this stage.

So, a dominant performance from the Proteas, they'll push on tomorrow, hoping for an early finish to this game. The Windies were very disappointing, they'll struggle to make South Africa bat again.

 

[Ljp86]

Re: 3rd Test: South Africa vs West Indies at Durban

South Africa are in complete contrl of this game now at 4/520. They lead by a massive 380 runs and South Africa look to have envery intention of batting the West Indies out of this game.

Smith departed for 147, Amla made 69 and Jacques Kallis was out for 74. Ashwell Prince and AB de Villiers have continued the Windies misery, scoring 113 and 77 respectively. They combined for a partnership of 147 so far.

For the Windies, Powell, Taylor, Sammy and Samuels have the wickets, one apiece.

Well, this game is well and truly in South Africa's hands at the moment, it's only Day 2 so the pain for the Windies looks set to continue.

 

[Ljp86]

Re: 3rd Test: South Africa vs West Indies at Durban

South Africa declared at 4/566, both Prince and de Villiers had unbeaten centuries.

West Indies faced a small period of eleven overs before stumps on Day 2, they finished 0/23. So far on Day 5, they have lost five wickets and have added 250 runs, leaving them 5/273. Marlon Samuels has top score with 85 not out while Dwayne Bravo is next best with 75. Denesh Ramdin was just dismissed for 25, nicking Andre Nel behind to Mark Boucher.

Dale Steyn is the only multiple wicket-taker with 2/68.

Only a matter of time for South Africa now, West Indies still trail by 144 runs, so they're still in a struggle to make the Proteas bat again. However, Chanderpaul is still to bat but has the flu, it remains to be seen if he will bat. Anyway, Darren Sammy is in at seven.

 

[Ljp86]

Re: 3rd Test: South Africa vs West Indies at Durban

All over. Dale Steyn cleans up the tail and West Indies are all out for 317, Chanderpaul did not end up batting.

South Africa win by an innings and 100 runs. Total dominace from South Africa in this game, not even a centruy from Samuels could make them bat again. After he and Bravo's partnership ended, the Windies didn't put up much of a fight.

So, South Africa win the series 2-1 after being 1-0 down after the first game. Quite a turnaround from the first match where the Windies dominated, the second and third tests saw the South Africans flextheir own muscle.

Ashwell Prince was Man of the Match and Dale Steyn was Man of the Series, his second award in a row, the first came against New Zealand.

The series now heads into one-day mode and that will start on January 18.