West Indies v South Africa - Third Test

Kensington Oval, Bridgetown, Barbados

WI: CG Greenidge, DL Haynes, GA Headley, IVA Richards, CH Lloyd, *G StA Sobers, +PJL Dujon, MD Marshall, MA Holding, J Garner, CA Walsh.
SAF: BA Richards, *TL Goddard, B Mitchell, RG Pollock, AD Nourse, DJ Cullinan, +DT Lindsay, MJ Procter, HJ Tayfield, AA Donald, NAT Adcock.

Debuts: Nil
Umpires: DM Archer & LH Barker
Toss: South Africa

After the pummelling given them in Trinidad, the batsmen on both sides would have welcomed the flatter, more trustworthy track that had been prepared at the Kensington Oval, and with Trevor Goddard winning his third consecutive toss it was South Africa who would get first use of the facilities.

Richards and Goddard began in nervy fashion, but once Richards departed for a streaky 27, consistent batting from Goddard and the middle order gave the tourists a first innings platform for the first time in the series. Goddard batted watchfully for over five hours for 71, his third fifty in three Tests, Pollock stroked thirteen boundaries in a confident 77, severely punishing the wayward Holding before edging behind to give Holding his revenge, whilst Nourse made a brave, undefeated 58, having been forced to retire partway through his innings after being struck a painful blow in the ribcage by Walsh. Indeed, it was Walsh who was the pick of the home attack, ripping out the tail to finish with ATG best figures of 6-39 off 23.2 overs, but South Africa's total of 346 at last gave them a foothold in the game.

Greenidge and the fit-again Viv Richards counter-attacked with venom when West Indies came to bat, but Donald's dismissal of Richards, well caught by Mitchell in the slip cordon for a 44 ball 46, was a huge wicket, and when Adcock removed Lloyd (19) and Greenidge (84) in successive overs, West Indies were 185-5 and struggling. Sobers (36), Dujon (20) and Holding (22*) rallied briefly, but Tayfield and Donald combined to clean up the tail, and with West Indies closing on 276, South Africa held a lead of 70.

Slow over rates and unseasonal rain meant that the match was by now into its fourth day though, so the Springboks needed quick runs if they were going to be able to apply some last day pressure on their hosts. Goddard, Mitchell and, crucially, Pollock, all fell cheaply to leave South Africa 61-3, but Barry Richards looked more confident than on the first morning, and in Nourse he found a partner who was willing and able to match his stroke-laden assault on the West Indies' pacemen. With the wicket still sluggish the pair added 111 for the fourth wicket in 25 overs, Richards passing 3000 career runs in the process, and for once the home attack looked powerless to stop them. Richards eventually reached his sixth ATG century off 132 balls, and with Nourse striking his second fifty of the match the tourists ended day four on 230-5, a lead of exactly 300. With his side already 2-0 down in the series, Goddard, normally a conservative captain, declared overnight, and now looked to bowl out a West Indian team which would undoubtedly go for the runs on the final day.

West Indies looked to go on the offensive from the first ball, but a pumped up Allan Donald led a Springbok attack that reduced their hosts to 58-4 shortly after lunch, with Viv Richards again falling to a Bruce Mitchell catch off Donald, this time for a third ball duck. Stroke play was now not so easy on a wicket whose bounce was starting to become uneven, and Des Haynes' anchor role was now of crucial importance. Sobers threatened briefly with a run-a-ball 40, but Tayfield was now beginning to weave a web with his off spin, and the middle and late order, including both Sobers and Haynes (60), were ensnared for the second time in the match as Tayfield claimed a deserved five-for.

From 143-7, Dujon and Holding gamely tried to hit their way out of trouble, but it couldn't last, and it was left to the final pair of Garner and Walsh to try to survive the last 20 overs with all thoughts of victory gone. Somehow they lasted for ten of those overs, but Walsh was eventually trapped in front by Procter and South Africa had pulled off a highly commendable 71 run victory. After the events of the first two Tests, the Springboks had shown great resilience to come back with a win here, and with two Tests to play the series is suddenly alive again as we head for Antigua.

Scores
SAF 1st Inns 346 (Pollock 77, Goddard 71, Nourse 58*; Walsh 6-39)
WI 1st Inns 276 (Greenidge 84, IVA Richards 46; Donald 4-56)
SAF 2nd Inns 230-5 dec. (BA Richards 102, Nourse 74)
WI 2nd Inns 229 (Haynes 60, Sobers 40; Tayfield 5-65)

SOUTH AFRICA WON BY 71 RUNS

Man of the Match: BA Richards