Pollock strikes early to finish off West Indies

South Africa 561 & 226-6 dec West Indies 410 & 188 South Africa win by 189 runs

Shaun Pollock removed the main threat of Brian Lara within the first half-hour as South Africa completed victory over the West Indies by 189 runs in the first Test an hour and 10 minutes after lunch at the Wanderers here yesterday.

South Africa had been in charge since winning the toss and amassing 368 for 3 on the opening day. The West Indies struggled to make up ground after that, eventually falling to their 26th defeat in their past 35 overseas Tests.

The accurate pace of the man of the match, Makhaya Ntini, had tightened the screws when he left the West Indies, needing an improbable 378 to win, on 10 for 3 after 10 overs at the close of play on Monday. Only the presence of the captain, Lara, whose 203 in the first innings was his sixth Test double-century, had kept West Indian hopes alive overnight.

When Pollock, who finished with second-innings figures of 4 for 31, pinned Ramnaresh Sarwan on the backfoot for a clear-cut lbw decision in the day's fifth over and then bowled Lara off the under-edge in his next over, the West Indies were 43 for 5 and the outcome effectively settled.

Shivnarine Chanderpaul and the wicketkeeper, Ridley Jacobs, saved the West Indies from complete humiliation with an enterprising sixth-wicket partnership of 98 that carried the match into the second session of the day. But Jacobs, who batted with typical resolve for 25, was yorked soon after lunch by Andre Nel, South Africa's fastest bowler, and Pollock returned to end Chanderpaul's attacking 74, that featured 14 fours, with a catch to long leg.

After that it was only a matter of time. Chris Gayle, the usual opener who was obliged to bat No 9 with a runner after badly tearing his left hamstring on the first day, flashed four successive fours in one over from Nel. But the big fast bowler soon had the last laugh, having Gayle caught behind in his next over then responding to the dismissal by sticking his tongue out at the departing batsman, haka style. The gesture earned Nel a fine of half his match feeafter a meeting with the match referee, Ranjan Madugalle.

Nel had been charged by the third umpire, Brian Jerling, for "using language that is obscene, offensive or insulting, and/or the making of obscene gestures". Nel pleaded guilty to the charge.

Both teams and their captains were also fined for a slow over-rate. South Africa were docked 15 per cent of their match fee, with Smith losing 30 per cent of his fee. Lara was fined 10 per cent of his and his team five per cent.

The second of the four Tests starts in Durban on Boxing Day.

South Africa won the toss

SOUTH AFRICA - First Innings 561 (J H Kallis 158, G C Smith 132, M van Jaarsveld 73, H H Gibbs 60).

WEST INDIES - First Innings 410 (B C Lara 202, D Ganga 60; M Ntini 5-94).

SOUTH AFRICA - Second Innings 226-6dec.

WEST INDIES - Second Innings (overnight: 31-3)
R R Sarwan lbw b Pollock 8
B C Lara b Pollock 5
S Chanderpaul c Nel b Pollock 74
ÝR D Jacobs b Nel 25
C H Gayle c Boucher b Nel 26
M Dillon b Ntini 7
C D Collymore lbw b Pollock 0
F H Edwards not out 0
Extras (b10 lb6 nb11) 27
Total (51 overs) 188

Fall: 1-5, 2-18, 3-25, 4-41, 5-43, 6-141, 7-168, 8-176, 9-188.

Bowling: Pollock 17-6-31-4; Ntini 14-4-53-4; Nel 13-3-49-2; Kallis 4-0-21 0; Peterson 3 0 18 0.

Umpires: D B Hair (Aus) and S J A Taufel (Aus).

Man of the Match: R Dravid (India).