da fazobetai： A captain is judged by many things, not least his ability to lead byexample
Marcus Prior09-Apr-2001A captain is judged by many things, not least his ability to lead byexample. That is exactly what South Africa’s Shaun Pollock has done theentire series against the West Indies, but on Monday in the fourth Test atthe Antigua Recreation Ground he offered another yardstick – a penchant forthe risky and adventurous, in the belief that fortune more often than notfavours the brave. Fortune, plus skill and professionalism, of course.Setting the West Indies 323 to win off 131 overs looked generous. But bythe close on day four the home side had slumped to 101-4, and short of aBrian Lara (5 not out) batting miracle (and something close to themiraculous from his supporting cast, of whom Ramnaresh Sarwan is 4 not out)the match – and the series – will be South Africa’s before we go to thefifth test in Jamaica.
Boje- trump card
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After a positive start to the run-chase from Chris Gayle (12) and WavellHinds (29) which helped the West Indies take tea at 32 without loss, fourwickets in the final session swung the momentum South Africa’s way, perhapsthe last swing of the pendulum in a match in which the visitors have alwayshad their noses slightly in front.Left-arm spinner Nicky Boje was the trump card on a wicket offeringgenerous turn and bounce. Gayle and Hinds both fell to catches close to thebat off the man from Bloemfontein, the former a straightforward decision,Hinds perhaps harshly ordered on his way as the ball appeared to strike padonly.Shivnarine Chanderpaul (15) was then trapped on the back foot in frontof his stumps by Boje after a solid start. If that wicket had an air offinality about it, it was only reinforced by the departure of captain CarlHooper.Hooper (21) promoted himself to number four in a bid to counter Boje’sturn from the rough outside the off-stump to the left-handers and providegreater stability to the innings, but will be furious with the way he gavehis wicket away. Not for the first time in this series he looked in glorioustouch, but when he tried to pull a quicker delivery from Lance Klusenerthrough midwicket he succeeded only in splicing the ball to Neil McKenzie atmid-on.Earlier, Pollock and Jacques Kallis batted extemely positively after thelunch as the South Africans looked to set up the declaration, thebelligerence in stark contrast to the negative batting and bowling whichmarred much of Sunday.Pollock was particularly severe on leg-spinner Dinanath Ramnarine,pulling him through midwicket for four and then lofting him over long-offfor four more off consecutive deliveries. Ramnarine continued to be on thereceiving end of punishment from both batsmen as Pollock went on to finishunbeaten on 41, Kallis 30.In choosing to declare, Pollock left himself 12 runs short of joiningthe elite group of seven cricketers who have achieved the double of 2 000runs and 200 wickets in Test cricket.Before lunch, Courtney Walsh grabbed three South African wickets to takehis world record tally to 513 as the West Indies fought their way back intothe game. Resuming on their overnight 122-3, South Africa reached 168-7 atthe interval.The first wicket fell as early as the fourth ball of the morning, McKenzie playing across the line at a straight ball from Walsh which went onto hit off-stump. McKenzie gone without adding to his overnight 44, scoredoff 186 balls and including three boundaries.Daryll Cullinan then pulled Dinanath Ramnarine for two successive foursthrough midwicket, but when the leg-spinner was promptly replaced by slowleft-armer Neil McGarrell, the South African gave Gayle some catchingpractice at first slip and was gone for 28.Gayle then undid his good work, putting down Kallis on just onein Walsh’s next over. It was a tough chance, low to his left at first slip,but Gayle got both hands to it and will be disappointed he could not holdon.Walsh went on to strike twice more, Klusener’s miserable run with thebat continuing when, after scoring just a single, he chipped straight tosquare-leg where Hinds took a good low catch. Klusener now has 31runs in seven innings in the series. Mark Boucher has also been short ofruns since the first test in Guyana, and he went for just three when hegroped forward at a ball from Walsh that straightened on him and took theedge through to Ridley Jacobs.