Sammy in late burst

by HAYDN GILLin AntiguaWEST INDIES’ selectors hastily added a 15th man to their injury-plagued squad less than 24 hours ahead  of the second  Digicel One-Day International against South Africa yesterday.At the alarming rate of afflictions, however, it would appear that they need of squad  of 30 to beat  the opponents.Not even a stunning assault courtesy of some remarkable  big-hitting by Darren Sammy could prevent a fourth successive defeat at the Vivian Richards Cricket Ground in a match that claimed a further three casualties to add to the two who could not be considered  for selection.At a seemingly hopeless position of 200 for six in the 41st over when the target of 301 was still a long way off when Sammy stepped onto the ground to tear into the attack with the type of destruction that was common by the man in whose honour the ground is named.In the twinkling of an eye, Sammy had bludgeoned 58 off 24 balls with six mighty sixes that were struck with disdain and authority and the target had now come within reach despite the presence of only  two wickets in hand.An estimated bank holiday crowd of about 6,000 was now fully behind the Caribbean side as the equation came to down to 18 runs from the final 13 balls.The noise, however, turned to silence when South Africa completed a 17-run victory by snatching the last two wickets in successive balls courtesy of unnecessary run-outs.Ravi Rampaul, who had  been a silent but useful partner in a ninth-wicket stand of  47 with Sammy, found himself past the point of no return when he was backing up too far and the bowler had no difficulties  in hitting the stumps after the ball was struck back to him.Out came last man Nikita Miller with Kieron Pollard as his runner, but his assistant failed to make his ground despite a desperate dive from a tight single to short  extra-cover that was cut short by Graeme Smith’s direct throw.A crest-fallen Sammy stooped to the ground in disappointment knowing that his efforts had come to nothing.West Indies also benefitted with half-centuries from Dwayne Bravo and Dale Richards but they appeared to be fighting a losing cause until Sammy entered.In a match that left physiotherapist CJ Clark the busiest man in the dressing room, West Indies couldn’t call on the incapacitated Shivnarine Chanderpaul and Kemar Roach, and throughout the contest, the names of Richards, Miller and Ramnaresh Sarwan were added to the list of pain sufferers.The recalled Richards, who arrived in the island after 9 p.m. on Sunday night after his sudden call-up, was preferred to an out-of-sorts Andre Fletcher at the top of the order and batted with a sense of purpose for a measured 51 off 85 balls.As he approached his  half-century, however, he was hobbling in discomfort with  a bout of cramp and required on-field attention in what was one of many appearances  in the middle for the physio. After passing fifty, Richards couldn’t manage a lot more and had his stumps hit when he backed away to try to launch Jacques Kallis through  the off-side.By then, Sarwan was already the victim of a hamstring injury sustained in trying to  complete a single to mid-on. From the time he completed the run, you could sense that  a player with a lengthy record  of wounds, was in trouble and  it was no surprise that he had to terminate his innings prematurely on six.The first West Indies casualty on the day came when left-arm spinner Miller was forced to leave the field in his third over with a side strain.While Richards is expected  to be back on his feet again, Sarwan and Miller will have scans today to reveal the full extent of their injuries.Sarwan returned at 236 for six at the end of the 44th over and faced only a single ball that he edged to the keeper when his movement looked  to be restricted.In spite of the mid-innings difficulties, there was still a bit of a fight in the West Indies’ chase in which Bravo was outstanding with a quality 74 off 70 balls that included two superb sixes down the ground.The chase began in optimism with an opening stand of 40 between Richards and captain Chris Gayle that provided something of a platform.When Gayle fell for 26 from  a firm stroke straight to cover, there were some who expected  a typical West Indies collapse, but Bravo, Richards, Sammy and Kieron Pollard combined  to ensure South Africa did not have things their merry way.