WEST INDIES’ hopes, raised by superb spin bowling from Sulieman Benn, were later dashed by a combination of umpiring decisions and their own reluctance and misjudgment in requesting television referrals.The upshot was that A.B. de Villiers benefited twice on eight and 42 to rally South Africa from a delicate 145 for five, to a second-day close of play total of 285 for six in the third and final Digicel Test, replying to the West Indies’ unsatisfactory first innings effort of 231.de Villiers’ fortuitous knock of 73, which spanned 245 minutes off 189 balls and contained six fours, plus contrasting half-centuries from captain Graeme Smith (70) and Ashwell Prince (55 not out, 3×4, 173 balls, 238 minutes), helped South Africa to a first innings lead of 54 runs so far with four wickets in hand.
Probing spinThe lanky Benn, who troubled the South African batsmen with his probing left-arm spin as he got the ball to bounce and turn, ended the day with the impressive figures of 31-7-59-4. It was maybe two scalps short of what he truly deserved.But wicket-taking support was lacking from off-spinner Shane Shillingford, who had 25 barren overs for 85 runs, while Kemar Roach bowled with some pace but no penetration in his 20 overs.Medium pacer Dwayne Bravo was steady in 17 overs for a mere 21 runs,, after starting the day with four maidens, while debutant Brandon Bess removed night watchman Paul Harris for his first Test wicket but was generally off target, conceding 65 runs in nine overs.With fewer than 500 spectators in the two stands, which were open as fans stayed away for the second straight day to watch World Cup football, lady luck smiled on the Proteas, who lead the three-match series 1-0.Even when they overtook the Windies’ total, it was compliments of four overthrows when Brendan Nash’s throw from point missed the stumps for Prince to escape being run out on 37.The bonus runs brought up the lucky de Villiers’ 50 but his crucial sixth-wicket alliance of 134 with Prince tilted the match South Africa’s way after they linked up with the innings at the crossroads on 145 for five.Had umpire Steve Davis spotted a bottom edge from de Villiers’ bat off Roach, which all the West Indian close-in fielders seemed sure about but then surprisingly didn’t ask for confirmation from television umpires Asad Rauf, the scoreboard might’ve read 163 for six at that stage.Later, Bess, whose outswinger to Harris in his first over of the day and 18th ball in Test cricket, gave Gayle a shoulder-high first slip catch, was denied a second wicket. He hit de Villiers on the back foot with a delivery that skidded on but Davis again turned down the appeal.Once again, the West Indies declined to ask for a second opinion from “upstairs” but television footage showed that the ball would’ve hit the top of the stumps.Maybe, the West Indies’ reluctance stemmed from two earlier decisions in the pre-lunch session when Benn was asking the South African batsmen several questions with his flighted spin.
TV referralIn his first over of the day, Benn pinned Smith in front but standing umpire Simon Taufel indicated he was unsighted by the bowler as he followed through. This time, the West Indies called for the television referral but even though the footage showed the ball would’ve clipped the leg stump, Smith was not given out.The luckless Benn also struck Jacques Kallis in front the wicket in his next over as he knelt down and swept from the crease. This time, Taufel upheld the appeal but Kallis challenged it and was vindicated when television replays indicated that the ball would actually bounce over the stumps.But Benn persevered and the pressure paid off when Smith gave a bat-pad catch to Dale Richards at short leg, ending an innings, which contained nine fours off 115 balls in 159 minutes.Benn did not have to appeal and challenge a decision anymore against Kallis as in the first over after lunch, the experienced right-hander offered no shot to a ball which nipped back and hit the off-stump without addition to his interval score of 43.His dismissal led to a virtual go slow by de Villiers and Prince as they eked out a mere two boundaries while scoring 58 runs in 31 overs in taking the score to 203 for five at tea.When the West Indies finally had the courage to challenge another leg before wicket appeal, which Davis turned down after Shillingford deceived de Villiers with a turning off break, the replay suggested the ball would barely brush the leg stump.It proved to be a wasted second incorrect referral as de Villiers only added two more to his score, getting a thick edge to a cut at Benn and wicketkeeper Denesh Ramdin held a good catch.
