January 04, 2008	Friday	Zilhaj 24, 1428

CAPE TOWN, Jan 3: Ashwell Prince and Mark Boucher ground out an unbeaten 87-run partnership to enable South Africa to seize a slight advantage as the second day of the second Test against the West Indies developed into a war of attrition at Newlands on Thursday.

South Africa were 218 for five at the close in reply to the West Indies total of 243.

South Africa had been in trouble at 131 for five after West Indian vice-captain Dwayne Bravo picked up three wickets in a marathon spell of medium-paced swing bowling.

With fast bowler Fidel Edwards off the field with an injured right hamstring, Bravo bowled unchanged into a stiff south-easterly wind from before lunch until after tea to take three for 46 in 24 overs.

But Prince and Boucher gradually wore down a depleted attack.

It was desperately slow at times, with only 41 runs scored in the first 26 overs after tea on a slow pitch with a slow, soft outfield which made boundaries difficult to achieve.

But as the bowlers tired towards the end of the day, Prince and Boucher picked up the tempo, scoring 52 runs in the last ten overs.

That the West Indies, who lead the three-match series 1-0, were still in the match was mainly due to Bravo.

His persistent accuracy was rewarded in his 15th over when he claimed the key wicket of Jacques Kallis, who was caught behind for 36.

He trapped Hashim Amla leg before for 32 with an in-swinger in his next over and had A.B. de Villiers caught behind shortly after tea.

Jerome Taylor also bowled well for the West Indies, dismissing both openers, Neil McKenzie and Graeme Smith, at a cost of 25 runs in an unchanged spell of nine overs either side of lunch. He finished the day with two for 45.

Kallis and Amla put on 59 in 80 minutes for the third wicket and appeared to be playing South Africa into a strong position.

But Bravo’s double strike put the teams back on an even balance, with South Africa also having a fast bowling casualty in Dale Steyn, who did not take the field at the start of the day when his team quickly dismissed the last two West Indian batsmen.

A West Indian spokesman said Edwards was receiving treatment but his hope that the player would return to the field on Thursday was not realised.

A South African spokesman said Steyn had a minor strain of the right hamstring and that the medical staff were working to get him ready to bowl in the second innings.

Taylor had McKenzie caught at slip for 23 after McKenzie and South African captain Graeme Smith put on 46.

McKenzie, in his return to Test cricket after an absence of three-and-a-half years, looked comfortable in the unaccustomed role of an opening batsman as he made 23 off 54 balls.

But then he got a good ball from Taylor, being drawn forward to one that moved away just enough to find the edge, with West Indian captain Chris Gayle taking the catch at first slip.

Smith was caught behind for 28 soon after lunch.

Taylor started his spell after Edwards had to leave the field. Edwards was running in to bowl what would have been the final ball of his fifth over when he pulled up shortly before reaching his delivery stride.

Earlier it took South Africa just three overs to wrap up the West Indian first innings. The tourists added only three runs to their overnight 240 for eight.

Andre Nel claimed both the last two wickets. Daren Powell was caught at second slip and Edwards at third slip, leaving Shivnarine Chanderpaul unbeaten on 65.

Nel finished with three for 61.

Scoreboard

WEST INDIES (1st Innings, overnight 240-8):

C.H. Gayle c McKenzie b Nel 46

D. Ganga c Boucher b Steyn 3

R.S, Morton c Ntini b Kallis 23

M.N. Samuels c Boucher b Ntini 51

S. Chanderpaul not out 65

D.J. Bravo c Kallis b Ntini 0

D. Ramdin lbw b Steyn 21

R.N. Lewis b Steyn 0

J.E. Taylor c and b Steyn 8

D.B.L. Powell c Kallis b Nel 0

F.H. Edwards c de Villiers b Nel 2

EXTRAS (B-5, LB-10, W-1, NB-8) 24

TOTAL (all out, 92 overs) 243

FALL OF WKTS: 1-12, 2-71, 3-77, 4-183, 5-185, 6-220, 7-220, 8-237, 9-241.

BOWLING: Steyn 20-5-60-4 (8nb); Ntini 22-7-63-2; Nel 22-5-61-3 (1w); Kallis 9-1-11-1; Harris 19-5-33-0.

SOUTH AFRICA (1st Innings):

G.C. Smith c Ramdin b Taylor 28

N.D. McKenzie c Gayle b Taylor 23

H.M. Amla lbw b Bravo 32

J.H. Kallis c Ramdin b Bravo 36

A.G. Prince not out 55

A.B. de Villiers c Ramdin b Bravo 2

M.V. Boucher not out 35

EXTRAS (B-4, LB-3) 7

TOTAL (for five wkts, 85 overs) 218

FALL OF WKTS: 1-46, 2-61, 3-120, 4-123, 5-131.

TO BAT: P.L. Harris, A. Nel, D.W. Steyn, M. Ntini.

BOWLING (to-date): Powell 19-3-69-0; Edwards 4.5-1-12-0, Samuels 7.1-3-13-0; Taylor 18-6-45-2; Bravo 24-8-46-3; Lewis 12-3-26-0.—AFP