First Test ends in a draw

GEORGETOWN, MARCH 14. Opening batsman Herschelle Gibbs made an unbeaten 83 as South Africa held on for a comfortable draw in the first Test against the West Indies at the Bourda ground here on Tuesday. South Africa was 142 for two when play was called off half an hour before the scheduled close. The South Africans had been set 306 to win in 76 overs, a challenge which was unlikely to be accepted on a slow pitch.

Gibbs made an aggressive start, however, surviving a dropped catch as South Africa scored 25 off the first five overs. Gibbs, on two, edged Mervyn Dillon at shoulder height just to the right of West Indian captain Carl Hooper at second slip. Hooper got both hands to the ball but could not hold it and the ball flew to the boundary.

Gibbs and Gary Kirsten put on 66 for the first wicket before Kirsten was caught at short-leg off leg-spinner Dinanath Ramnarine for 24. Gibbs went on to reach his fifty off 106 balls with seven 4s.

Jacques Kallis (30) helped Gibbs add 68 for the second wicket before being trapped leg before by a ball from Nixon McLean which kept low in the last over before the final hour started.

Earlier, Ramnaresh Sarwan fell nine runs short of a maiden Test century when he was run out shortly before the West Indian declaration.

Sarwan, 20, made the highest score by a West Indian in a Test against South Africa in reaching 91 before he was out as the batsmen sought to force the pace. Sarwan fell victim to agile fielding by Gibbs at short fine-leg. Sarwan had started for a run but was sent back by partner Ridley Jacobs. Sarwan, one of three batsmen aged 21 or younger who made half-centuries for the West Indies during the Test, batted for 211 minutes, faced 181 balls and hit nine 4s.

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Section  : Sport
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