West Indies battling hard in 2nd Test

Narsingh Deonarine struck a patient unbeaten half-century as hosts West Indies showed stiff resistance against South Africa to post 126 for two in the first innings at lunch on the third day.

The hosts still trail by 417 runs in the first innings after the Proteas posted a mammoth 543 for six before declaring their innings after three centuries in their 147-over long innings.

Deonarine first added 93 runs with captain Chris Gayle before the latter was bowled by Morne Morkel.

Gayle, who struck eight fours in his 84-ball knock, was Mokel’s second victim after the bowler had dismissed Travis Dowlin for 10.

Deonarine continued to battle on with Shivnarine Chanderpaul as West Indies hoped to first avoid the follow-on.

Earlier, the day belonged to South Africa as Jacques Kallis and A B de Villiers struck centuries to take their team to a formidable total.

Kallis, who played a typical Test innings, hit 12 fours with a six while de Villiers increased the pace after Kallis’ dismissal as the South Africans seemed eager to declare as quickly as possible in order to seal another quick win in the series.

He hit six sixes as he remained unbeaten on 135 and took his team past 500. Kallis, who completed 11,000 Test runs on day two, brought up his 35th century while de Villiers struck his 10th as West Indian bowlers found it hard to pick up wickets. The spinners – Shane Shllingford, Sulieman Benn and Deonarine – bowled 85 overs among them to claim four wickets as they struggled at Warner Park with Shillingford returning with three for 193 to have something to show for his efforts.

The West Indian batsmen have so far struggled — a hue reason for the whitewashes in Twenty 20 series and the One Day International series at home.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 21^st, 2010.