Second Test, Cape Town (stumps, day two):
South Africa 218-5 v West Indies 243 Dwayne Bravo took 3-46 in a marathon spell of 24 overs |
Ashwell Prince and Mark Boucher turned round a difficult situation as South Africa closed on a first innings lead over West Indies in the second Test.
After their last two wickets had fallen in three overs, leaving them with a total of 243, the onus was on the West Indies bowlers to produce the goods.
Dwayne Bravo took 3-46 in a marathon single spell of 24 overs, forcing a collapse from 120-2 to 131-5.
But Prince and Boucher added 87 as South Africa reached 218-5 at stumps.
The hosts started the day well, quickly polishing off the West Indies tail - leaving Shivnarine Chanderpaul high and dry on 65 - and getting through to lunch on 52-1.
 | 606: DEBATE |
But Jerome Taylor removed makeshift opener Neil McKenzie (23) and then took the important wicket of Graeme Smith (28) when the out-of-form skipper nibbled at a ball outside off-stump that went through to wicket-keeper Denesh Ramdin.
Two further wickets fell before tea as Bravo persuaded Jacques Kallis (36) to edge a delivery that bounced a little bit more than the batsman expected on its way to Ramdin, and then trapped Hashim Amla (32) lbw with a perfect off-cutter.
The alarm bells rang loud for South Africa, who lost the first Test by 128 runs, when AB de Villiers fell to Bravo soon after tea - giving Ramdin his third catch.
 Prince forces the ball away for one of his seven boundaries |
But West Indies skipper Chris Gayle had his bowling options reduced because of injuries to pace bowlers Taylor and Fidel Edwards (hamstring), and he was forced to use spinners Rawl Lewis and Marlon Samuels for a long period, taking the pressure off the home batsmen.
Lewis, whose Test record is modest, posed little threat and fast bowler Daren Powell was off colour throughout the day.
Taylor finally returned to share the second new ball with Powell, but Edwards is unlikely to bowl again in the match, and a vital sixth wicket - which would have exposed South Africa's tail - was not forthcoming.
Prince and Boucher, who began their stand with utmost caution, blossomed towards the end of the day and by the close had had hauled their side into a decent position.
Prince played smoothly to reach 55 not out, with Boucher ending the day on 35.
South Africa coach Micky Arthur:
"It's a tough Test match. Runs are at a premium and the third and fourth innings are going to be really challenging. "The West Indies bowled well and showed a lot of patience. It's going to go down to the wire."
West Indies all-rounder Dwayne Bravo:
"We were a bowler short and I knew it would take something special. "One more wicket and we'll be into the tail, then it will be up to our batters to put a total on the board and put South Africa under pressure. They have shown they have not been playing well under pressure."
E-mail this to a friend 
Printable version 
Bookmark with:
What are these?