West Indies take control of fifth Test

A sensational fightback by the West Indies saw them dismiss series winners South Africa for a feeble 141 on the second day of the fifth Test at Sabina Park on Friday.

Defending their own modest first innings score of 225, the home side earned a shock lead of 84 which had been extended to 118 runs by the close of play.

Openers Leon Garrick (21 not out) and Chris Gayle (10 not out) started the second innings to 34 without loss at the close of play.

South Africa may have already won the series with their unassailable 2-0 lead but the home side undoubtedly restored some of their badly dented pride as South Africa collapsed.

Mervyn Dillon claimed four wickets and Courtney Walsh three as the tourists succumbed to the home side's three-pronged pace attack in which Cameron Cuffy also played a significant role with two top order wickets.

Opener Gary Kirsten edged Walsh to Gayle at third slip to depart for his third duck in five innings and Herschelle Gibbs (18) edged Cuffy to wicketkeeper Ridley Jacobs in the first over after lunch.

Daryll Cullinan (6) began the innings just 65 runs short of 500 for the series but attempted an ambitious back foot cover drive and succeeded only in edging the ball to first slip where Brian Lara held a fine, low catch.

Jacques Kallis (17) continued his run of bad luck with an unusual caught and bowled dismissal that saw the ball loop back to Dillon via an inside edge and the batsman's pad.

Lance Klusener, who has averaged exactly four runs in the series prior to the fifth test, lofted leg spinner Dinanath Ramnarine for a straight six as he attempted to play himself back into form but Walsh slipped the perfect leg cutter through his defences to uproot off stump and dismiss him for 13.

Neil McKenzie, meanwhile, batted with perfect composure and proved as his team mates found new ways to get themselves out.

Mark Boucher (13) savagely hooked a Walsh bouncer to forward square leg where Garrick held an extraordinary catch while Pollock (24) was dismissed for just the third time in the series by wafting and edging Dillon to wicketkeeper Ridley Jacobs.

His innings included consecutive pull shots against Cuffy that earned 10 runs to the midwicket boundary.

McKenzie's fluent 45 from 99 balls ended with a missed sweep shot against leg spinner Dinanath Ramnarine which resulted in a successful lbw appeal and Dillon quickly wrapped the innings up before South Africa could mount a tail-end fightback.

Garrick counter-attacked in thrilling style when Donald and Pollock took the new ball, pulling and hooking the bouncers to remain at the crease at stumps.

The West Indian first innings ended soon after the start of play for the addition of 11 runs to their overnight 214 for nine wickets with Ramnarine advancing from 28 to 35 not out before Pollock dismissed Walsh (4) for his fifth wicket of the match.

Mail Cricket Editor