Windies gain slight edge over SA
Neil McGarrell justified his selection by taking four wickets on his first day of Test cricket on Friday as West Indies reduced South Africa to 210 for seven at close of play on the opening day of the fourth Test.
Opener Herschelle Gibbs battled to keep the tourists alive during the first two sessions with an aggressive 85 -- with 12 fours and a pair of sixes -- but no other batsman in the top order was able to offer meaningful support against McGarrell's teasing left arm spin.
South Africa's plight may have been even gloomier but for an unbroken eighth wicket stand of 62 runs between captain Shaun Pollock (36) and Nicky Boje (28).
McGarrell, one of two specialist spinners in a West Indian team for the first time in 25 years, justified Carl Hooper's bold decision to bowl first by claiming the first wicket when Gary Kirsten went cheaply, mistiming a drive to mid on.
Jacques Kallis then bottom edged a cut against Mervyn Dillon onto his off stump in the next over before Daryll Cullinan edged a perfect leg spinner from Dinanath Ramnarine to Brian Lara at slip.
Neil McKenzie shared a stand of 67 for the fourth wicket with Gibbs after lunch as the tourists recovered from 53 for three, but a bottom-edged cut shot against McGarrell was well taken by Ridley Jacobs and McKenzie departed for 35.
McGarrell completed a dream debut with two further wickets in the afternoon session as Lance Klusener's miserable tour continued with a seventh-ball duck.
He missing a pull shot was trapped plumb lbw, while Mark Boucher lasted just 14 balls before lofting a drive to Chris Gayle at mid on for one.
McGarrell finished the day with four wickets for 57 runs from 34 overs.
Gibbs departed on the stroke of tea in unusual style when an attempted sweep against Hooper's off spin went from his gloves onto Jacobs' shoulder -- only for the West Indian wicketkeeper to dive forward and collect the rebound.
But that was the last success the home side enjoyed as Pollock and Boje carefully stabilised the innings with a series of well taken singles and the occasional boundary.
