Smith Half-Century Leads South African Run Chase
Graeme Smith, leading from the front with a half-century.
©REUTERS/Howard Burditt (SOUTH AFRICA) Picture Supplied by Action Images
Shivnarine Chanderpaul: frustrating South Africa yet again.
©REUTERS/Howard Burditt (SOUTH AFRICA) Picture Supplied by Action Images
243 (Chanderpaul 65) & 262 (Chanderpaul 70no)
South Africa 321 (Prince 98) & 186-3 (Smith 85) in Cape Town
Scorecard
South Africa won by seven wickets and level the series 1-1
Graeme Smith hit a swift 85 as South Africa successfully chased down 185 to win the second Test against the West Indies in Cape Town by seven wickets on the fourth day.
Smith's whirlwind effort included 11 fours, and lasted just 79 balls before he was brilliantly caught by Chris Gayle, fielding with a broken thumb in the 28th over of the fourth innings of the match.
AB De Villiers returned to the top of the order, adding 57 with his captain before being caught by Darren Sammy, on as a sub, off of Dwayne Bravo for 23. Hashim Amla then hit 37 before he was caught by Gayle off of Rawl Lewis for 37 to keep West Indies' hopes alive.
Lewis, who before this match had taken only one Test wicket at an average of nearly 400, picked up his third of the match with Smith giving Gayle another catch leaving the Proteas on 154 for three.
At that point, all results bar a draw were possible, but with Jacques Kallis and Ashwell Prince at the crease, the extra half hour was taken and South Africa wrapped up a series-levelling seven-wicket win with a day and 15 minutes to spare.
Kallis finished unbeaten on 22, Prince on 12 having hit 98 in the first innings to set up the win, which leaves the series tied with one game remaining in Durban.
Earlier, Shivnarine Chanderpaul and Gayle stood firm as the West Indies pushed their lead past 150, the pair cobbling together a final wicket partnership worth 70 runs.
By lunch, they had made it to 161 for six with Chanderpaul unbeaten on 33 from 101 balls. Gayle retired hurt with a broken finger to add to his hamstring problems (one), Bravo was caught by Smith off of Andre Nel for 12 and Lewis was caught by Amla off of Paul Harris for one as South Africa struck crucial blows in the morning session.
Chanderpaul found a willing ally in Jerome Taylor, who hit two fours and a six to go to lunch on 21 not out, edging the tourist's lead to 83. Taylor was dismissed soon after lunch, as was Fidel Edwards, which left Gayle and Chanderpaul at the crease.
Chanderpaul hit another half-century, closing on 70 not out as Gayle hit four fours and three sixes in a brave innings of of 38 from 48 balls.
South Africa scored 321 in reply to West Indies' 243 in the first innings. Prince scored 98 in the first innings and was there at the end as South Africa answered their critics in the best way possible - winning once more at the first attempt against the West Indies.
� Cricket World 2008
