GEORGETOWN, CANA:
WEST Indies' two youngest batsmen Ramnaresh Sarwan and Marlon Samuels showcased their rich talent with contrasting half-centuries against South Africa on the fourth day of the first Cable and Wireless cricket Test at Bourda yesterday.
At the close, the West Indies, who conceded a 28-run first innings lead, were strongly positioned on 286 for four in the their second innings - 258 runs ahead - with Sarwan not out 71 and captain Carl Hooper on a cameo 31 off 56 balls.
Sarwan and Samuels, both stylish 20-year-old right-handed batsmen on whom the West Indies are pinning their hopes of reviving their cricketing fortunes, stole the hearts of the estimated 8,000 spectators with a mix of solid, sensible and scintillating stroke-play.
By stumps, Sarwan had already counted 10 fours in his 134-ball unbeaten knock in 160 minutes while Samuels' departure for a diligent and disciplined 51, set the stage for the revitalised Hooper to transform proceedings from a leisurely to a lively pace.
Once Hooper joined his young Guyanese compatriot, Sarwan grew in confidence and unleashed a volley of vintage shots as they featured in an electrifying and exciting unbroken fifth- wicket stand of 76 runs in only 74 minutes off 19.3 overs.
The Hooper-Sarwan partnership changed the complexion of the game which seemed heading for a draw and has left the Windies with an excellent chance to push for a victory on a wearing last day pitch.
The West Indies' dominant batting display in which they scored 236 runs for four wickets during an intriguing day's play, was typified by Samuels' intelligent approach.
The young Jamaican, after entering in the fray in the day's third over, batted with the patience and persistence of a hardened competitor and not an inexperienced rookie in only his fourth Test.
He occupied the crease for 276 minutes and faced 202 balls before a lapse in concentration after posting a well-deserved second Test fifty with five fours, brought about his downfall midway into the last session.
Samuels, clearly relieved at reaching the landmark, opened his rock-solid defence to play an indiscreet drive and the slippery fast-medium bowler Jacques Kallis slid one through the gate to uproot the middle stump.
Apart from Sarwan, Samuels and Hooper's late flourish, the Windies' total was boosted by opener Chris Gayle and star batsman Brian Lara, who made 44 and 45 respectively.
The day did not begin well for the Windies following Sunday's late array of shots by Gayle and Wavell Hinds which saw the Caribbean cricketers going to bed in the encouraging position of 50 without loss.
Just one run was added when Hinds fell 14 as he injudiciously chased a wide delivery from veteran pacer Allan Donald and edged a catch to wicket-keeper Mark Boucher.
Gayle, after a cautious start, freed himself from the tight South African shackles which allowed just 17 runs off the first 15 overs of the day by powerfully driving fast bowler Makhaya Ntini for a straight four.
Gayle also turned Kallis off his legs through mid-wicket for his eighth four but was then caught behind by Boucher, going back to dab a low delivery from left-arm spinner Nicky Boje.
Boje should have claimed an even bigger fish in his next over but Gary Kirsten at forward short leg failed to grab a sharp catch offered by Lara before he had scored.
Lara then elegantly cover-drove the bowler for his first boundary as the Windies went to lunch on 94 for two, gathering a mere 44 runs off 28 overs in the morning session.
On resumption, Lara worked Donald for leg-side boundaries off consecutive balls and turned Boje between square leg and mid-wicket for two more fours in consecutive overs.
But just when he was getting into high gear, the 69-run third wicket stand in 109 minutes with the supporting Samuels, came to an end, courtesy of a casual drive from Lara.
It was the second disappointing dismissal of the match for Lara.
SCOREBOARD
WI 1st innings 304
South Africa 1st innings 332
WI 2nd innings
(overnight 50 without loss)
W.Hinds c wk Boucher b Donald 14
C.Gayle c wk Boucher b Boje 44
M.Samuels b Kallis 51
B.Lara c Pollock b Ntini 45
R.Sarwan not out 71
C.Hooper not out 31
Extras (b9, lb7, w1, nb8) 25
Penalty 5
Total (for 4 wickets, 105 overs) 286
Fall of wickets: 1-51, 2-78, 3-147, 4-210.
To bat: R.Jacobs, N.McLean, M.Dillon, D.Ramnarine, C.Walsh.
Bowling: Donald 20-8-51-1, Pollock 17-4-51-0 (nb6), Kallis 15-2-36-1 (nb2), Boje 31-10-80-1, Ntini 14-5-20-1 (w1), Klusener 8-1-27-0.
