West Indies batsman Dwayne Smith celebrates scoring his century on Test debut against South Africa at Newlands in Cape Town on the final day of the third Test yesterday. - Reuters CAPE TOWN, South Africa, CMC:
DWAYNE SMITH earned immediate comparisons with some of the legends of West Indies batsmanship yesterday, blazing his way to a spectacular debut hundred to put the seal on a defiant batting effort by the tourists that ensured a draw in the third Test against South Africa.
Six days from his 21st birthday, the elegant Barbadian right-hander stunned his opponents, the Newlands crowd and even some of his own teammates with an unbeaten 105 as the Caribbean side threatened to rewrite history for the second time in less than eight months.
They eventually settled for the safety of the stalemate, finishing at 354 for five 87 runs short of the target of 441 when the match was called off with five of the mandatory final 15 overs left to be bowled.
After victories in the first two Tests, the result ensures a series win and retention of the Vivian Richards Trophy by the home team ahead of the final Test beginning January 16 at Centurion.
Yet that achievement, and even the invaluable contributions of skipper Brian Lara and vice-captain Ramnaresh Sarwan in the overall effort were overshadowed by Smith's amazing assault.
In becoming the first West Indian to score a hundred on Test debut for 28 years and the second youngest to achieve the feat after the great George Headley, he was assured of a place in history.
But it was the manner of his audacious, powerful strokeplay that left a permanent imprint on the memory of all who saw it.
Coming to the crease after Sarwan, on 69, fended a lifting delivery from Makhaya Ntini to gully, Smith, as in his brief first innings, showed no outward signs of nerves or discomfort at the dislocated little finger on his right hand.
At 224 for four and with a possible 47 overs left in the day, Graeme Smith's men moved in for the kill only to be repelled by a volley of sublime shots.
Undaunted by any number of traps set by the South African captain, the YMPC player proceeded to smash all bowlers with disdain to all parts of the boundary.
He completely dominated a 72-run fifth-wicket partnership with Wavell Hinds, taking the pressure off the struggling Jamaican and re-igniting hopes of a miraculous victory as he raced to fifty at almost a run-a-minute off 52 balls, hoisting unlucky spinner Paul Adams for six to reach the landmark.
His South African namesake's attempts to stem the flow of runs were to no avail.
Some of his shots bore more than just an element of risk as he frequently cleared the inner ring, frustrating fielders who could not believe the spectacle unfolding before their eyes.
Cynical journalists and weary broadcasters gasped in awe at his array of shots, but one stroke in particular a square-drive on bended knee for six over cover off Ntini bore the unmistakeable stamp of Caribbean bravado.
Even as he sped into the nineties, Smith remained focussed, two more authoritative boundaries off Andre Nel taking him to the century off only 93 deliveries with 15 fours and two sixes.
At that stage, the required rate was just over eight runs per over, a tantalising prospect if he could maintain the assault.
But Lara chose to call off the chase, not wanting to risk another wicket to expose a suspect lower order.
Ridley Jacobs, who had come in after Hinds played on to Shaun Pollock, remained quietly defiant to the end with Smith.
