West Indies lose by 7 Wickets
By Michael D. • Jan 5th, 2008 • Category: SportCAPE TOWN (Reuters) - Graeme Smith smashed 85 to guide South Africa to a seven-wicket win over West Indies on the fourth day of the second test on Saturday.
South Africa, who were chasing 185 to win, amassed 186-3 to level the three-match series at 1-1.
Smith, who was dropped on 18, faced 79 balls and hit 11 fours in his aggressive innings.
Chris Gayle and Shivnarine Chanderpaul shared 70, West Indies’ biggest 10th wicket partnership against South Africa, to guide the visitors to a second innings total of 262.
Ridley Jacobs and Merv Dillon held the record previously with the 64 they put on in Cape Town in 1998-99.
Gayle, who batted with a broken thumb and with a runner because of a hamstring strain, was last out for 38. His knock featured four fours and three sixes.
Chanderpaul was at the crease for five hours and faced 168 balls for his unbeaten 70.
Gayle retired hurt on one when he was hit on the thumb by the fourth ball of the day, which was bowled by paceman Andre Nel.
Nel struck a different kind of blow when his steepling delivery to Dwayne Bravo (12) took the outside edge and was caught by Smith at first slip.
Three overs later, Rawl Lewis (1) played forward to a delivery from left-arm spinner Paul Harris, edging the ball on to his pad and into the hands of Hashim Amla at short leg.
Jerome Taylor was dismissed just after lunch for 21 when he edged a delivery from fast bowler Dale Steyn to Kallis at second slip.
Steyn used the second new ball to have Daren Powell (1) caught by Smith at first slip.
Fidel Edwards, who also batted with a runner because of a hamstring injury, scored 21 before being spectacularly caught by a diving Harris at extra cover off Nel.
Gayle returned to the fray and smashed the bowlers to all parts while Chanderpaul offered resolute defiance as the South Africans wilted in the sun.
Steyn, who took 4-44, finally broke through when Gayle heaved a drive to long-on, where Harris took the catch.
AB de Villiers opened South Africa’s second innings with Smith in place of Neil McKenzie, who tore a calf muscle while fielding on Friday.
A fluent stand of 57 runs flowed before De Villiers (23) pulled a delivery from medium pacer Bravo and was caught by substitute fielder Darren Sammy at midwicket.
That was after Smith was dropped on 18 by Marlon Samuels at backward point off fast bowler Taylor.
Smith and Amla put on 83 in a brisk stand for the second wicket which was ended when Amla (37) pushed forward to a ball from leg-spinner Lewis and was juggled and caught by Gayle at slip.
Gayle pounced again to take the diving slip catch that removed Smith and earned Lewis his second wicket.
Kallis (22 not out) and Ashwell Prince (12 not out) took South Africa to victory.
The third and deciding test starts in Durban on Thursday.
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