Smith demonstrated tremendous potential for the future

Dwayne Smith became the first West Indies batsman for 26 years to make a century in his debut Test on the final day against South Africa in Cape Town.

Smith, who will be 21 next week, hit two sixes and 15 fours in an unbeaten 105 to salvage a draw for his side.

West Indies batted through the final day to make 354-5, after South Africa had declared with a lead of 440.

The result ensured South Africa win the series, however, as they lead 2-0 with one game to play.

It was a fabulous display of clean hitting by Smith, who was summoned to join the squad as a replacement earlier in the tour despite a first-class average in the low 20s.

He went to the middle when Ramnaresh Sarwan was out for 69 with the total on 224-4, and with the possibility of 37 and a half overs remaining in the day.

Smith dominated stands of 72 with Wavell Hinds, who eventually played on to Shaun Pollock for 25, and 58 with Ridley Jacobs.

WEST INDIES DEBUT CENTURIONS 176 G Headley v Eng 1930 112 A Ganteaume v Eng 1948 115 B Pairaudeau v Ind 1953 104 O Smith v Aus 1955 142 C Hunte v Pak 1958 214 L Rowe v NZ 1972 100no A Kallicharran v NZ 1972 107 G Greenidge v Ind 1974 105no L Baichan v Pak 1975 100 B Williams v Aus 1978 105no D Smith v SA 2004

He reached three figures off only 93 balls with two successive fours off Andre Nel to become the first West Indies player since Basil Williams in 1978 to make a debut hundred.

South Africa went into the final day with the prospect of a second successive home series whitewash over Brian Lara's side still in their sights, having won 5-0 in 1998-99, and struck two early blows.

Daren Ganga was first to go for 10 in the eighth over of play when he attempted to hook a bouncer from Makhaya Ntini and top edged a catch to wicket-keeper Mark Boucher.

Chris Gayle followed his first innings century with more fluent strokeplay, collecting seven boundaries in his 32.

But Ntini picked up his wicket his second wicket of the day with a full length delivery which flew to Herschelle Gibbs at gully as Gayle shaped to play through mid-wicket.

Lara and Sarwan steadied the innings and the West Indies were aided by a rain shower which sent the players in for an early lunch with the score on 128-2.

The afternoon session saw home skipper Graeme Smith opting for caution as Lara continued to find gaps in the field.

He struck 14 fours before Andre Nel made the vital breakthrough with Mark Boucher taking a low catch off the under-edge of Lara's bat as he shaped to pull.

The game would not have had the same course of events if SA hadn't already wrapped up the series From Matt James Have your say on TMS

It ended a partnership of 156 with Sarwan, who followed when he was surpised by a lifting ball from Ntini and the ball lobbed to Gibbs off the shoulder of the bat.

Smith was undaunted, however, as he went boldly for his shots and Jacobs was content to merely him company to the close, finishing on nine not out.

South Africa: G C Smith (capt), M V Boucher (wkt), H H Gibbs, J A Rudolph, J H Kallis, G Kirsten, N D McKenzie, S M Pollock, P R Adams, M Ntini, A Nel

West Indies: B C Lara (capt), R D Jacobs (wkt), C H Gayle, D Ganga, R R Sarwan, W W Hinds, D R Smith, V C Drakes, D Mohammed, A Sanford, F H Edwards