West Indies batsman Chris Gayle plays a shot during the fourth day in the last Test match at the Supersport cricket stadium in Pretoria yesterday.
- Reuters CENTURION, South Africa, CMC:
RECAPTURING THE defiance of the last days of the Durban and Cape Town Tests, the West Indies fought gallantly on a rain-affected fourth day of the Fourth Test yesterday to give themselves a real chance of avoiding another defeat to South Africa going into the final day of the series at SuperSport Park.
With the dismissal of Brian Lara the previous evening fuelling expectations for another swift Caribbean capitulation, Ramnaresh Sarwan and Chris Gayle showed the heart and pride that has often been missing in recent foreign campaigns in recording unbeaten hundreds that lifted the tourists to 263 for three in their second innings when bad light again ended play early.
SECOND CENTURIES
In registering their second centuries of the series and featuring in a 164-run fourth-wicket partnership so far, Sarwan (107 not out) and Gayle (106 not out) have pulled the West Indies to within 40 runs of making the hosts bat again.
It is a scenario that did not seem possible 24 hours earlier and has earned the admiration of South African coach Eric Simons.
"I think they've shown they haven't lost the stomach for a fight," said Simons at the end of a day restricted to 64 overs because of occasional showers amid generally dreary weather conditions.
"They've done extremely well today. They've taken a lot of flak from the press and various quarters and I think now they deserve some credit for showing some pride. They've stood up and done the business."
Despite the resistance, which followed the dismissal of Shivnarine Chanderpaul by Jacques Kallis - the only success for South Africa in the day - the coach remains confident that his team can complete victory on the last day, weather permitting, particularly with the second new ball due immediately.
"We're still in the driving seat, I have no doubt," Simons added.
WE CAN WIN IT
"The first hour tomorrow morning, the new ball, the weather-all these will be factors. But I still believe we can win it."
In keeping with team policy for batsmen not out overnight, Sarwan and Gayle were unavailable to the media after play.
But the pair let their bats do the talking in a most emphatic manner, although they will be conscious of the need to carry on well into the last day as South Africa are expected to launch all weapons in their armoury in pursuit of a potentially decisive breakthrough.
