South Africa collapse after Cullinan century

Daryll Cullinan made a century and Jacques Kallis a rapid 53 before South Africa collapsed to 286 all out in the second Test against West Indies on Saturday.

After reaching 161 for two just before tea, the tourists lost their last eight wickets for 125 and the final five for 30 after opting to bat on a dramatic opening day.

West Indies were two without loss at the close in reply after facing one over at the Queen's Park Oval.

The collapse began when front-line batsman Wavell Hinds, bowling his first over in Test cricket, caught and bowled Kallis shortly before tea.

Cullinan went on to make 103 before becoming one of leg-spinner Dinanath Ramnarine's three victims.

Veteran Courtney Walsh dismissed two South Africans and needs two more wickets to become the first bowler to take 500 in Test cricket.

South Africa Shaun Pollock had looked uncertain when he won the toss before opting to bat.

Openers Gary Kirsten and Herschelle Gibbs, however, rode their luck to take the visitors through the morning session.

Both batsman played and missed several times on a frustrating morning for the bowlers.

Mervyn Dillon, in particular, was unlucky, beating Kirsten with successive swinging deliveries while Gibbs survived a run-out scare.

West Indies broke through in the second over after lunch when Kirsten, who scored 150 in the first Test, was caught by captain Carl Hooper at first slip off Nixon McLean for 23.

Next over, Gibbs was bowled by a Walsh delivery which found its way between bat and pad and hit the off stump. It was the Jamaican's 497th Test wicket and his 50th in Port of Spain.

50 PARTNERSHIP

Undeterred, Jacques Kallis and Daryll Cullinan attacked the bowlers. After coming together on 62 for two, they reached their 50 partnership in 94 balls with a flurry of fours and sixes.

Ramnarine bore the brunt of the punishment, giving away 33 runs in a six-over spell.

Kallis hit two straight sixes in one over from Ramnarine, then hit two fours off another over, Cullinan then repeating the dose.

Kallis completed his 50, which included two sixes and seven fours, off 77 balls.

Just as things seemed to be getting out of control for West Indies, captain Carl Hooper turned to the unlikely Hinds.

REFUSED TO WALK

He responded by dismissing Kallis caught and bowled. Kallis refused to walk but was given out after the third umpire has been consulted.

After tea, Walsh took his 498th Test wicket when he had Neil McKenzie caught by Chris Gayle at second slip and South Africa were on the slide.

Ramnarine led the charge, taking three wickets for 24 in his spell as he wrought revenge.

He accounted for Cullinan, caught by Dillon, and Nicky Boje and Lance Klusener, caught by Jacobs for three and 15 respectively.

Hinds, taken off after dismissing Kallis, took another wicket when he was brought back for a second over and had Mark Boucher caught at mid-wicket.

McLean polished off the innings when he accounted for Allan Donald, caught by Jacobs for a duck, and tailender Makhaya Ntini.

Mail Cricket Editor