The Hindu : Sport / Cricket : S.A. off to a flyer

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Apr 30, 2005

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S.A. off to a flyer

ST. JOHN'S (ANTIGUA): : Skipper Graeme Smith and opener A.B. de Villiers gave South Africa a solid start as it reached 113 for no loss just before lunch on the opening day of the fourth and final Test against West Indies on Friday. Smith (47) and A.B. de Villiers (67) were at the crease.

Earlier, Smith won the toss for the first time on a Caribbean tour and chose to bat. The South Africans hold an unassailable 2-0 lead, but went into the match without fast bowler Andre Nel because of a back injury.

Nel was man of the match after taking 10 wickets to set up an innings victory in the third Test in Barbados. He was replaced by veteran Shaun Pollock, South Africa's leading wicket-taker with 377 in 93 Tests, who returns from an ankle injury from his first Test of the series.

The West Indies made three changes, including fast bowlers Tino Best and Dwight Washington, and all-rounder Narsingh Deonarine. Washington, 22, made his debut after Fidel Edwards pulled up in morning training with a sore back.

The teams:

West Indies: Shivnarine Chanderpaul (capt), Courtney Browne, Chris Gayle, Wavell Hinds, Ramanresh Sarwan, Brian Lara, Narsingh Deonarine, Dwayne Bravo, Daren Powell, Tino Best, Dwight Washington.

South Africa: Graeme Smith (captain), Nicky Boje, AB de Villiers, Boeta Dippenaar, Jacques Kallis, Herschelle Gibbs, Ashwell Prince, Mark Boucher, Shaun Pollock, Monde Zondeki, Makhaya Ntini.

Umpires: Simon Taufel (Australia), Billy Bowden (New Zealand). Third umpire: Basil Morgan (Montserrat).

ICC match referee: Jeff Crowe (New Zealand). — Agencies

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