The Hindu : Sport / Cricket : Fourth Test drawn

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Thursday, May 05, 2005

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Sport - Cricket

Fourth Test drawn

ST. JOHN'S (Antigua): The fourth cricket Test between the West Indies and South Africa meandered to a tame draw on Tuesday. South Africa had already retained the Sir Vivian Richards Trophy with victories in Trinidad and Barbados, and completed the series at a harmless Antigua Recreation Ground a 2-0 winner.

Chanderpaul made 127 and all-rounder Dwayne Bravo converted his maiden hundred to 107 in the West Indies' massive total of 747, only four shy of the ground record set against England a year ago. It also marked the first time eight centuries were registered in one Test.

South Africa, trailing by 159 runs on the first innings, comfortably secured a draw at 127 for one with captain Graeme Smith and Boeta Dippenaar hitting unbeaten half centuries. Smith, named Man of the Series, scored 500 runs in the series on his way to 50 not out. Dippenaar struck seven 4s and two 6s in an undefeated 56.

The West Indies resumed at 565 for five, and Chanderpaul on 82. He reached his 13th Test century clipping Jacques Kallis through square-leg for three. His third hundred against South Africa took 242 balls.

Chanderpaul and Bravo stretched their sixth-wicket stand to 130, a West Indies record against South Africa, before Shaun Pollock conjured a piece of magic with a direct hit from the deep as Chanderpaul tried for a third run. Chanderpaul struck 13 fours off 287 deliveries in just under seven hours.

Pollock, South Africa's leading wicket-taker, vainly returned from an ankle injury which sidelined him for five Tests, with 34 fruitless overs on a perfect pitch for batting. But some consolation may be that the ground is set for reconstruction for the 2007 World Cup.

The West Indies lost its seventh wicket without addition when wicketkeeper Courtney Browne was leg before for a duck to the off-spin of Smith, then Bravo and Daren Powell took the West Indies to 700 for only the third time. Part-time medium-pacer A.B. de Villiers struck with two wickets to leave Bravo in danger of running out of partners short of three figures.

The five-match one-day series begins in Jamaica with a double-header this weekend. — AP

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