Cricket: South African centuries grind West Indies down

BRIDGETOWN - Graeme Smith and AB de Villiers ground out centuries to sap the spirit from the West Indies on the second day of the third test on Friday.

Smith scored 104 and De Villiers made an undefeated 122 to anchor South Africa's total of 253 for one, which they reached at stumps in reply to the West Indies' first innings of 296.

South African captain Smith faced 202 balls and hit 13 fours and a six in a solid but cautious innings.

The more aggressive De Villiers scored his runs off 236 balls and hit 13 fours and a six.

Smith and De Villiers took an important step towards shutting the West Indies out of the match with an opening stand of 191.

The partnership started in the fourth over of the day, and endured until the 19th over before the close when Smith skied a drive off the bowling of off-spinner Chris Gayle to Wavell Hinds at deep extra cover.

The West Indies wasted a chance to separate the openers in the sixth over after lunch with the total on 59 without loss.

Smith, on 25, sent an airborne drive off fast bowler Fidel Edwards into the covers where Dwayne Bravo dived to his left but failed to hold a one-handed catch.

Other than that, Smith and De Villiers had little trouble accumulating runs on a sound pitch and against the West Indies' unthreatening bowling.

Smith went to his 10th test century with consecutive pulled fours through midwicket off fast bowler Daren Powell in the 16th over after tea.

De Villiers, who was 84 not out when Smith was dismissed, reached his second century in 10 tests with a single to mid-off off fast bowler Reon King 10 overs before the close.

Boeta Dippenaar was 23 not out at stumps in a partnership of 63 for the unbroken second wicket.

Fast bowlers Andre Nel and Monde Zondeki needed just 20 deliveries between them to take three wickets and wrap up the West Indies' innings, which resumed on 292 for seven.

Zondeki struck with the fourth ball of the day when he had Powell caught behind by wicketkeeper Mark Boucher before a run had been added to the overnight total.

In Zondeki's next over Edwards attempted to hook a bouncer but simply managed to lift the ball into the hands of Dippenaar at short leg and was out for two.

Nel ended the innings when Courtney Browne, who scored three, hooked a catch down the throat of Zondeki at fine leg.

Zondeki took four for 50 and Nel four for 56.

The start of South Africa's first innings was delayed for several minutes after the ground staff used the light roller on the pitch between innings.

South Africa's assistant coach Vincent Barnes came onto the field while the light roller was in use and spoke to the ground staff.

Soon afterwards, a tractor pulling the heavy roller trundled onto the ground.

- REUTERS