Rudolph ends century drought before West Indies fight back

Saturday, January 3, 2004

CAPE TOWN, South Africa (AFP): South African batsman Jacques Rudolph made his first Test hundred for nine months on Friday but the first day of the third Test at Newlands ended in disappointment for his team as the West Indies hit back.

South Africa were 308 for six at the close of play after losing three wickets in the last four overs. The collapse started when Rudolph (101) became left-arm wrist spinner Dave Mohammed's first Test victim. 

Fast bowler Fidel Edwards rocketed a ball through the defences of nightwatchman Paul Adams before Mohammed bowled Neil McKenzie (76), who had helped Rudolph add 142 for the fourth wicket.

"It was unfortunate to lose two wickets after I went out," said Rudolph. "I was disappointed to get out because if you saw the (muted) way I celebrated my hundred, I knew I had to see it through to the close."

Rudolph, 22, admitted that he was relieved to add a second century to the unbeaten 222, the second-highest score on debut in history, he made against Bangladesh in Chittagong last April. He made a half-century in the second Test in Bangladesh but had made only one more fifty in seven Tests since then.

"It's been tough after that double hundred," he admitted. "I had to stay focused and keep going."

Rudolph and McKenzie seemed to have taken their side into a strong position with some enterprising stroke play after a shaky period earlier in the day during which three wickets fell and Jacques Kallis retired hurt.

West Indian captain Brian Lara's decision to use Edwards and Mohammed in tandem at the end of the day, without taking the second new ball, paid off when Edwards twice struck Rudolph on the body with short-pitched balls before Rudolph missed a sweep against Mohammed and was out leg before wicket. He batted for 275 minutes, faced 215 balls and hit 13 fours. 

Adams was sent in as a nightwatchman but lasted only four balls before being bowled by Edwards. Mohammed struck again in his next over when McKenzie played a loose defensive shot at a googly and was bowled off an inside edge. 

Earlier Sanford bowled the West Indies into contention when he dismissed opening batsmen Herschelle Gibbs and Graeme Smith. The pair had put on 70 after Smith won the toss.

Sanford then held a catch at third man to dismiss Gary Kirsten off the bowling of Fidel Edwards.

South Africa suffered another blow when Kallis, who made centuries in the first two Tests, had to go to hospital for X-rays after being struck on the right forearm when he missed a pull against Edwards. A team spokesman said he had severe bruising but would be able to bat Saturday.

The West Indies, already missing three players who had to return home early because of injuries, suffered two more blows before the match. 

Shivnarine Chanderpaul, who made a century in the second innings in Durban while batting with a runner, was ruled out because of a quadricep strain and replaced by new cap Dwayne Smith, while seam bowler Corey Collymore, who missed the second Test because of a hamstring injury, was again ruled out after failing a late fitness test.

Opening batsman Chris Gayle returned after suffering a hamstring injury in the first Test in Durban, with Carlton Baugh being dropped, while Mohammed was picked ahead of Mervyn Dillon, the most experienced seam bowler in the touring party.

Mohammed made an inauspicious start when he dropped a straightforward chance at gully from Gibbs off Edwards when the batsman was on 22 but the 24-year-old from Trinidad finished the day strongly.

Rudolph praised the West Indian bowlers. "They bowled a good length and line and were a lot more disciplined," he said.

Scoreboard at close of play on the first day:

South Africa, first innings
G Smith c Lara b Sanford 42
H Gibbs c Jacobs b Sanford 33
J Rudolph lbw b Mohammed 101
J Kallis retired hurt 23
G Kirsten c Sanford b Edwards 16
N McKenzie b Mohammed 76
P Adams b Edwards 0
M Boucher not out 0
S Pollock not out 2
Extras (b2, lb3, nb10) 15
Total (6 wkts) 308

Falls: 1-70, 2-90, 3-162, 4-304, 5-305, 6-305
Bowling: Drakes 18-5-39-0 (3nb), Edwards 18-3-69-2 (2nb), Sanford 21-3-82-2, Smith 2-0-4-0 (1nb), Mohammed 21-4-70-2, Gayle 10-0-39-0 (4nb).
To bat: M Ntini, A Nel. 

West Indies: B Lara, C Gayle, W Hinds, D Ganga, R Sarwan, D Smith, R Jacobs, V Drakes, D Mohammed, A Sanford, F Edwards.

Overs: 90

Umpires: Daryl Harper (AUS) and Srinivas Venkataraghavan (IND).
Television umpire: Ian Howell (RSA).
Match referee: Ranjan Madugalle (SRI) 

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