A flat pitch, and a fresh opportunity in a home series, gave the West Indies a chance to regain some pride. This they duly did, led by the second coming of Carl Hooper.

Chris Gayle, Marlon Samuels, Hooper and Brian Lara all made contributions in the face of south Africa's pace barrage. Sherwin Campbell and former captain Jimmy Adams paid the ultimate price for the recent failures, and were replaced by the young guns. Initially this selectorial policy shows promise.

South Africa looked ominous at 171 for 1 in reply to the home sides 304. Gary Kirsten and Jacques Kallis adding 146 before Nixon McLean trapped Kallis infront. At 198-4 Mark Boucher joined the belligerent Kirsten to add 72, coupled with some late order resistance, the tourists gained a slender 28 run advantage.

Merv Dillon and Courtney Walsh (2 for 56 - 4 away from 500 Test wickets and deserved retirement)led the attack, alongside spinner Dinesh Ramnarine, preferred to Nagamootoo, who made inroads into the middle-order, finishing with 3 for 104 from 41 overs.

Second time around the West Indies made the position safe, as Gayle, Samuels, Hooper and Lara again all passed 30. It was 20 year-old Ramnaresh Sarwan's 91 that stole the show. After 181 balls he missed out on a maiden Test century due to some sharp fielding from Herschelle Gibbs, leaving him stranded as Boucher whipped off the bails,

An unlikely 306 in 76 possible overs, was safe enough for West Indies to declare, leaving South Africa some batting practice. Gibbs finished on 83*, his first fifty since returning after the Cronje-scandal. Let's hope the rest of the pitches offer a little more life, and the chance to really test the new West Indian side.
Richard Kendall