Sport

Solid Sarwan stands firm

PORT OF SPAIN, (REUTERS)

RAMNARESH SARWAN STOOD firm as West Indies struggled to 170 for five at the close on the fourth day of the second Test against South Africa yesterday.

The hosts, who lost Brian Lara cheaply, were just 119 runs ahead with Sarwan unbeaten on 93 and Dwayne Bravo on 30 following an unbroken sixth-wicket partnership of 78.

South Africa were earlier dismissed for 398 in reply to West Indies' 347, part-time off-spinner Chris Gayle wrapping up the tourists' innings with four quick wickets.

Gayle was first out when West Indies batted again, pushing at a slanting delivery from fast bowler Makhaya Ntini and finding the hands of AB de Villiers in the gully.

South Africa wasted an opportunity to dismiss Sarwan when Jacques Rudolph at short leg failed to reach a looping chance off Ntini.

Wavell Hinds was dropped by wicketkeeper Mark Boucher off Jacques Kallis before left-arm spinner Nicky Boje broke through, trapping the opener lbw for 22 to end a second-wicket stand of 65 with Sarwan.

Turned sharply

Boje then bowled Lara, (who made 196 in the first innings), for four with a delivery that turned sharply and kept low before Ntini struck again with the last ball before tea by trapping Shivnarine Chanderpaul lbw for one.

West Indies sank to 92 for five in the fourth over after the interval when Ntini yorked Donovan Pagon off his inside edge and they would have been 118 for six if Rudolph had not dropped a straightforward chance at square leg offered by Bravo off fast bowler Monde Zondeki.

Sarwan batted defiantly, however, facing 190 balls and hitting nine fours, and he found a useful ally in promising all-rounder Bravo as the pair took the hosts through to the close without further loss.

Earlier, after South Africa had resumed on 370 for six, Gayle struck with his first ball when Boucher, on 28, offered a tame return catch to end a seventh-wicket stand of 71 with Ashwell Prince.

Three balls later Gayle had Prince caught by Chanderpaul at short extra cover for 45 and Gayle took his third wicket when he bowled Ntini for four.