Morkel rips through Windies top order

PORT OF SPAIN: Morne Morkel ran through the top order of the West Indies’ batting in a decisive opening spell before lunch to put South Africa in control of the opening Test. The lanky fast bowler captured three wickets for seven runs as West Indies, replying to the South Africans’ first innings total of 352, reached 65 for three at the interval on the third day.

Extracting some bounce, if not movement from the hard, true Queen’s Park Oval pitch, Morkel ripped out makeshift opener Travis Dowlin, left-hander Brendan Nash, and West Indies captain Chris Gayle in successive overs to leave the home team on 12 for three.

But the Proteas failed to make further headway, with Narsingh Deonarine not out on 27 and Shivnarine Chanderpaul not out on 24 busily trying to restore stability to the West Indies batting with an unbroken stand of 53.

Morkel had Dowlin edged and caught at first slip for four. In his next over, he removed Nash for one before striking the most important blow when Gayle dragged the first ball following a drinks break onto his stumps.

Earlier, South Africa benefitted from Mark Boucher and Dale Steyn’s 86-run eighth wicket partnership to take them past the 300-mark after AB de Villiers and Ashwell Prince were dismissed. South Africa, resuming at 190 for five after lunch on day two, added 39 before Prince became Gayle’s victim. De Villiers was then dismissed by Sulieman Benn, who then added Dale Steyn and Morkel to his tally of wickets to end up with five for 120 in 47 marathon overs. Shane Shillingford, who is playing his first Test, ended with three for 96 in 35 overs.

Published in the Express Tribune, June 13^th, 2010.