Cullinan century puts South Africa back on track

Daryll Cullinan's second century in consecutive Tests against the West Indies boosted South Africa to 244 for five on the first day of the third Test on Thursday.

Cullinan followed his match-winning innings of 103 and 73 in South Africa's triumph in the second Test in Trinidad with an unbeaten 108 from 202 balls.

It was his 14th Test century and made Carl Hooper's decision to bowl first look questionable .

But the day had begun perfectly for the new West Indies captain. Courtney Walsh produced a vicious delivery to dismiss Gary Kirsten off the third ball of the match when a steeply rising bouncer looped from the left hander's gloves to Chris Gayle at third slip without a run scored.

Herschelle Gibbs and Jacques Kallis appeared to have weathered a torrid storm with a second wicket stand of 53 before both were dismissed 20 minutes before lunch.

An often erratic Mervyn Dillon induced an attacking edge which flew to Hooper at second slip to remove Gibbs for 34. A defensive edge from Kallis, on 11, was safely taken by wicketkeeper Ridley Jacobs.

At 58 for three, Hooper's bowlers had justified his gamble, but a fourth wicket stand of 149 between Cullinan and Neil McKenzie undid most of the morning's good work as South Africa regained control.

Cullinan reached 50 moments before McKenzie, who rediscovered his form after four weeks' of struggle on tour, to record his second Test 50 from 98 balls with eight boundaries and a hooked six off a Dillon bouncer.

But just as McKenzie was dreaming of a third Test century he fell to a sucker punch by pulling a long hop from part time medium-pacer Wavell Hinds straight to square leg to depart for 72 scored from 158 balls with nine fours and a six.

Cameron Cuffy, playing his first Test for four years, finally claimed a richly deserved wicket when Mark Boucher, on three, edged an excellent delivery with the second new ball to Jacobs shortly before the close.

Cuffy had endured two dropped catches off his bowling earlier when Gibbs escaped on 17 and McKenzie on 43.

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