Benn breaks 34-year spin drought at Kensington

Jun 29, 2010 Sports

Sulieman Benn

But woeful Windies on verge of another defeat

By Sean Devers in Barbados
In association with Caribbean Airlines

Left-arm spinner Suleiman Benn yesterday grabbed 6-81 from 46.4 overs to become only the fifth West Indian spinner and the first in 34 years since David Hollford, to take five wickets in a Test innings at Kensington Oval.
The 28-year-old Barbadian, captured his third five-wicket haul and 2nd in the series when he trapped Johan Botha leg before, as West Indies denied South Africa the opportunity to score freely. Benn, the first West Indian spinner since Lance Gibbs to capture three five-wicket Test hauls, bowled unchanged in the opening session and finished off the innings with the 4th ball after lunch to claim his 50th Test wicket.
South Africa’s 346, replying to the 231 made by the hosts, give them a 115-run first innings lead but by the end of the 3rd day’s play of the final Test, West Indies in their 2nd innings, were wobbling at 134-7.
After the demise of Dale Richards (17) and Narsingh Deonarine (0) by Dale Steyn in two balls with the score on 27 and Skipper Chris Gayle (10) 9 runs later, also to Steyn, West Indies, who must win this match to level the series, were always going to struggle.
Although their oldest warrior- Shiv Chanderpaul- who scored 5 of his 22 hundreds against South Africa, offered defiance in his unbeaten 57, he only has the bowlers to bat with him and another crushing defeat looms large.
Chanderpaul and Brendan Nash, the two batsmen most mentally equipped for the job of defying opposition bowlers, joined forces but once their fighting 34-run partnership was broken with the first ball after Tea, it was all downhill for a side which have not beaten South Africa at any level in their last 18 matches.

Shivnarine Chanderpaul

Stands were again empty in ideal conditions when South Africa resumed on 285-6 with a lead of 54 and although the Football World cup is a distraction, the steady decline of West Indies cricket has significantly contributed to the dwindling crowds, even on an Island still filled with cricket-mad people.
Their only series loss in the West Indies was in 1992 and after white washing their hosts in both the 20/20 and ODI series, South Africa only need a draw to win the series.
Ashwell Prince (55*) and Mark Boucher (4*) began cautiously against ‘tight’ bowling from Benn and Dwayne Bravo in sultry conditions.
With the score on 300-6 and Boucher on 14, Denish Ramdin, whose cricket is falling apart, dropped an easy return from mid-on with Boucher stranded. Prince and Boucher carried the visitors to 312 before Boucher, who labored to add just 13 to his overnight score in an hour’s batting yesterday, was run out by Brandon Bess.
The West Indies’ ploy to have Benn and Bravo bowl defensively and pack the off-side with 7 fielders (all preventing a singles) worked. With runs not coming the batmen became agitated resulting in Prince’s call for a non-existent single to break the shackles.
Prince, showing signs of frustration with his inability to score freely, and Johan Botha joined forces to see their team to 326 before Benn removed Botha.
Steyn (4) was bowled by Roach at 333-9, ten minutes before lunch leaving Prince unbeaten on 78 at the interval with his team on 342-9. Benn wrapped up the innings when Morne Morkel was caught at slip.

Dale Steyn

West Indies began their 2nd innings in enterprising fashion with Richards hitting four fours and Gayle stroking two against the new ball pair of Steyn and Morkel. But Steyn struck twice in the 5th over and then had Chris Gayle caught behind at 36-3. It was the beginning of the end.
Chanderpaul and Nash saw their team to tea at 70-3, still 45 runs away from making South Africa ( who won by an innings and 82 runs in 2005 when the teams last met at this ground) bat a 2nd time. Botha had Nash (12) caught at slip and Bravo (2) played a timid back defensive shot to left-arm spinner Paul Harris and was ‘played on’ as West Indies slumped to 75-5.
Ramdin was dismissed for one to leave the score on 75-6 and although Chanderpaul (who like Atlas, has had to carry the batting on his shoulders since the exit of the great Brian Lara) was still there, the prospect of another innings defeat inside three days was real.
West Indies lowest total against South Africa is 121 in St Elizabeth in 1998 and Ramdin’s atrocious shot selection (again cutting) left the regional team in danger of sinking to an even lower low.
With Shane Shillingford offering support to Chanderpaul after Tea, the focus in the Media Centre was on watching 5-times champions Brazil hammer Chile in the Football World Cup on Television.
Chanderpaul reached his 54th fifty by steering Morkel for four and along with Shillingford (25) featured in a 53-run partnership to ensure South Africa bat again and the game enter the penultimate day. Botha (3-34) trapped Shillingford leg before at 128-7 and although Benn has 7 First-Class fifties, Roach and Bess are not expected to offer much support.
With a lead of just 19 runs, this one-sided series could be over by lunch today. For many West Indians, it will be a huge relief.
Scores: West Indies 231 and 134 for 7 (Chanderpaul 57, Benn 4*, Steyn 3-31, Botha 3-34) lead South Africa 346 (Prince 78*, Benn 6-81) by 19 runs.