SA, Windies draw second Test

BASSETERRE – Jacques Kallis had enough time to complete yet another half-century as the second Test between West Indies and South Africa predictably meandered to a tame draw yesterday.The right-hander, who passed 11 000 runs in Tests when he scored his first innings century, was unbeaten on 62 when South Africa made their second declaration of the match at 235 for three, a lead of 232.With nothing left in the match deep in the final session, both teams not surprisingly decided to call it quits, bringing an end to the high-scoring but hardly inspiring contest at Warner Park.Kallis shared an unbroken, fourth wicket stand of 104 with AB de Villiers who finished on 31, a partnership that snuffed the life out of the game after some pre-lunch fireworks had raised hopes of a tense finish.Resuming at 23 without loss on the final day, the excitement came when West Indies snatched wickets in successive overs before the break, to leave the Proteas on 131 for three.Cruising along at 131 for one, South Africa lost two wickets in the space of four balls with no runs added.Hashim Amla, who made 44, had strung together 57 for the second wicket with opener Alviro Petersen after captain Graeme Smith had earlier stroked 46 in a 74-run opening stand.The right-hander seemed poised for his first half-century of the Test series when he deflected off-spinner Shane Shillingford (2-80) to backward short-leg where he was smartly caught by substitute Darren Sammy in the penultimate over before lunch.With the score still on 131 four balls before the interval, Petersen’s 129-ball labour over 39 came to an end when he was bowled off-stump by medium pacer Dwayne Bravo after striking a four and a six.It left Kallis and de Villiers, yet to score at lunch, with the task of ensuring there would be no afternoon pyrotechnics and they promptly dropped anchor to prevent any potential collapse.Kallis faced 128 balls, stroking six fours and a pulled six over mid-wicket off Dwayne Bravo, two balls after he had driven the medium pacer straight for four in an over that cost 12.de Villiers, also a first innings century-maker, hit just two fours in facing 130 balls, and was content to play the sheet anchor role.Earlier, Smith and Petersen had ensured an uneventful start to the day, negating an opening five-over burst from speedster Kemar Roach.Though solid, Smith was quick to pounce on anything loose and he pulled Roach square and then hit him straight for boundaries, to account for two of his five fours.He advanced down the wicket to smack Shillingford over long-on for his only six in the off-spinner’s fourth over of the morning and then drove through cover for four, to raise the tempo.But Shillingford got his revenge off the next delivery when the left-hander was caught by wicketkeeper Denesh Ramdin looking to cut one that turned. (CMC)