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South Africa was at its clinical best as it took full advantage of the opportunity to bat first on the opening day of the second Test at Warner Park, St. Kitts, on Friday. Even with four overs being lost to rain which threatened all day (play will start at 3.45pm SA time on Saturday) the Proteas were able to close out the first day on a commanding 296/3 to set themselves up for what should be a good second day as well.
The prime contributor was captain Graeme Smith who confirmed his return to form after his innings of 90 in the first Test by contributing 132 off 238 balls with 9 fours and 3 sixes. He reached two important landmarks by making his 21st Test century to equal the mark of Gary Kirsten and also his 7 000th run in the premier form of the game. He is the third South African to reach 7 000 after Kirsten and Jacques Kallis.
It was not his most fluent innings and there were a couple of close shaves along the way, notably when Shivnarine Chanderpaul was unable to hold on to a full-blooded sweep when he had reached 69.
But, for the most part, it was business as usual. Nervous 90s are not something you associate with the South African captain and he moved rapidly from 81 to 93 by hitting part-time spinner Narsingh Deonarine for successive sixes – the second brought up his 7,000 runs – and then went to three figures with a well run lap sweep for three.
The most impressive feature was the way that the Proteas built partnerships. Smith and Alviro Petersen put on 99 for the first wicket – the third time in a row they have shared opening stands of more than 50 – Smith and Hashim Amla 113 for the second and then Smith and Kallis 71 for the third.
There could well be further individual milestones along the road as Kallis needs a further 44 runs to top 11 000 and AB de Villiers just 4 to reach 4,000. As it is Kallis went past Australia’s Steve Waugh on Friday to 6th place on the all-time list.
The West Indies brought Kumar Roach back into their side in place of Nelon Pascal while the Proteas fielded their expected unchanged side. Roach certainly added aggression and venom to the home attack even if he lacked discipline (10 no balls) and the visitors will have noted that he swung the ball both ways when it started to reverse.
There is certainly a lot more for the Proteas’ attack in this surface than there was at Trinidad.
“We will have to work hard for wickets,” commented Smith, “but there is good bounce and carry in the pitch and most deliveries were comfortably taken by the wicketkeeper.
“Reverse swing is also going to be a factor again.”
But the first job for the Proteas to build on their excellent day one performance and put an imposing total on the board. In assessing a good total the Proteas will have to take note of the small field which has already conceded 6 sixes, 3 of which came before lunch on the first morning of a Test match!
It is likely that the West Indies will continue their policy of the first Test in delaying taking the second new ball as the ball tends to get very soft and it became increasingly difficult for the Proteas to push the score along in the final session. They scored 104 in the first session 133 in the second and only 59 in the third.
Mini Scorecard:
South Africa 1st Innings 296/3 (86.0 overs)
Smith 132 Shillingford 2-91
Petersen 52 Roach 1-45
File Photograph Copyright: Oliver Florence
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Smith ton puts South Africa in early control of 2nd Test: South Africa was at its clinical best as it took full ad… http://bit.ly/bcuovw