CENTURION, South Africa, CMC:
BRIAN LARA and Fidel Edwards were the most successful batsman and bowler respectively for West Indies in the four-Test series against South Africa that ended at SuperSport Park on Tuesday.
Lara scored 531 runs from eight innings at an average of 66.37 posting two centuries and two half-centuries in the process. His highest score was 202 in the first Test that was his first hundred against the South Africans.
Vice-captain Ramnaresh Sarwan with 392 runs (avg. 49.00), Chris Gayle with 366 (avg. 61.00), and Shivnarine Chanderpaul with 286 (avg. 47.66) were the only other batsmen to score more than 200 runs in the series.
A MEASLY EIGHT WICKETS
Edwards delivered 134.4 overs (only Vasbert Drakes with 148 bowled more) in four Tests and reaped a measly eight wickets at 81.00 apiece. His three for 132 at Cape Town were his best figures.
Undoubtedly, Jacques Kallis, who scored centuries in each of the four Tests, was the most successful South African batsman and leading batsman overall in the series. He scored 712 runs at an average of 178.00.
Opening batsman Herschelle Gibbs had the second highest South African and series aggregate of 583 runs (avg. 116.60), South Africa captain Graeme Smith totalled 418 (avg. 69.66) and fellow left-hander Jacques Rudolph hit 220 (avg. 36.66) as the only batsmen over 200 runs.
As expected, South Africa's three front-line fast bowlers shared the bulk of the wickets. Makhaya Ntini, named Man-of-the-Series, led the way with 29 wickets at 21.37 a piece, Andre Nel captured 22 at 23.18 each, and Shaun Pollock bagged 16 at 29.00 each.
