21 January 2004	Wednesday	28 Ziqa'ad 1424

CENTURION, Jan 20: Shaun Pollock took four wickets as South Africa denied West Indies a face-saving draw on a rain-hit final day of the fourth Test on Tuesday.

Resuming on 263 for three having followed on 303 runs behind South Africa's first innings of 604 for six declared, West Indies crumbled to 348 all out.

Not even a series of rain interruptions could save West Indies as South Africa knocked off the 46-run target in 3.4 overs. South Africa clinch the series 3-0 after drawing the third Test and winning first two.

West Indies began the morning session with a draw a real possibility after the Monday heroics of Chris Gayle and Ramnaresh Sarwan. Only 11 overs were possible before lunch but that was long enough for centurion Gayle to fall having added just one run to his overnight 106.

Gaylehit 17 fours, lost his balance while cutting a delivery from fast bowler Makhaya Ntini and was caught by Neil McKenzie in the gully. His dismissal ended a stand of 174 for the fourth wicket with Sarwan, a West Indian record for any wicket in Tests against South Africa.

Three overs later Pollock trapped Sarwan in front for a career best equalling 119 with a ball that cut back at the right hander. West Indies then tottered to 278 for six when Dwayne Smith lost his off-stump to a Ntini delivery without scoring.

Just five overs were bowled between lunch and tea because of rain but Pollock struck twice in that time to have Vasbert Drakes caught by Herschelle Gibbs in the gully for four off a rising delivery and then trap Ridley Jacobs lbw for three.

Merv Dillon battled away for 29 before being caught by Graeme Smith at first slip off Pollock and Fidel Edwards was bowled by fast bowler Andre Nel. Smith (23 not out) and Herschelle Gibbs romped to the small victory target as the match ended in farcical fashion.

On the penultimate ball of the game, bowled by Edwards to Smith, wicket-keeper Ridley Jacobs was beaten and the ball sped over the boundary for four byes.

Edwards' next delivery slid down the leg side, past Smith and Jacobs and across the ropes for five wides as West Indies slipped to another humbling defeat.

Scoreboard

SOUTH AFRICA (1st Innings) 604-6 declared (H.H. Gibbs 192, G.C. Smith 139, J.H. Kallis 130 not out).

WEST INDIES (1st Innings) 301 (C.H. Gayle 77; M. Ntini 5-49).

WEST INDIES (2nd Innings, overnight 263-3):

C.H. Gayle c McKenzie b Ntini 107

D. Ganga b Ntini 0

R.R. Sarwan lbw b Pollock 119

B.C. Lara lbw b Nel 6

S. Chanderpaul c Gibbs b Kallis 27

D.R. Smith b Ntini 0

R.D. Jacobs lbw b Pollock 3

V.C. Drakes c Gibbs b Pollock 4

M. Dillon c Smith b Pollock 29

C.D. Collymore not out 13

F.H. Edwards b Nel 10

EXTRAS (B-4, LB-11, W-7, NB-8) 30

TOTAL (all out, 106.4 overs) 348

FALL OF WKTS: 1-18, 2-32, 3-99, 4-273, 5-277, 6-278, 7-284, 8-309, 9-322.

BOWLING: Pollock 32-10-69-4 (8nb); Ntini 28-4-99-3 (5w); Nel 15.4-2-64-2 (2w); Kallis 16-4-49-1; Hall 0.2-0-4-0; Smith 8.4-1-24-0; Rudolph 6-0-24-0.

SOUTH AFRICA (2nd Innings):

G.C. Smith not out 23

H.H. Gibbs not out 8

EXTRAS (B-4, W-10, NB-1) 15

TOTAL (for no wkt, 3.4 overs) 46

BOWLING: Dillon 2-0-17-0; Edwards 1.4-0-25-0 (1nb, 2w).-Reuters