PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad (CMC) – Left-arm spinner Sulieman Benn turned from villain to hero with an outstanding five-wicket haul but rearguard half-centuries from Mark Boucher, AB de Villiers and Ashwell Prince orchestrated a strong South African response on the second day of the first Test here yesterday.
Precariously poised at 107 for five inside the first hour at the Queen’s Park Oval, South Africa were dismissed late in the day for 352 with the gangling six-footer Benn finishing with five for 120.
South Africa’s revival was owed mainly to Boucher who hammered 69, de Villiers who carved out 68 and Prince who scored 57 as they strung together precious partnerships to ensure West Indies chased a challenging total.
Benn, sent off by captain Chris Gayle for insubordination during the fourth One-Day International in Dominica two weeks ago, chose the appropriate medium by which to redeem himself.
Sending down a marathon 47 overs, the 28-year-old proved the leader of the Windies attack as he bowled mostly in tandem with off-spinner Shane Shillingford (3-96) to keep his side in the hunt.
The five-wicket haul was his second in Tests and was also his second in three matches following a similar performance against Australia late last year.
West Indies seemed poised to run through the Proteas innings when they collected quick wickets early in the morning session.
Overnight batsmen, Jacques Kallis and nightwatchman Paul Harris, added a further 21 as South Africa tried to rebuild after finishing the rain-hit first day on 70 for three.
Benn made the early breakthrough, when he had Harris caught at cover for 10 in the day’s fifth over at 91 for four and Shillingford continued his memorable debut when he trapped Kallis lbw for 28, after the right-hander played back to one that turned.
Struggling at 107 for five, de Villiers and Prince came together to frustrate the Windies attack with a patient sixth-wicket stand of 122.
While the right-handed de Villiers stroked five fours off 145 balls, the left-handed Prince carved out 57 off 119 balls with two fours and a lofted six over long-off off Shillingford.
de Villiers reached his 50 from 106 balls with a single to backward point, and Prince passed 50 from 98 balls, with a single behind square leg off the same bowler.
But West Indies captain Chris Gayle, bowling his uncomplicated off-spin, made the breakthrough for his side with the first ball of his first and only over, when he had Prince caught at leg-gully by Travis Dowlin, attempting to work a delivery around the corner at 229 for six.
Four overs and nine runs later, Benn struck again when he had de Villiers caught behind for 68 as West Indies hauled themselves right back into the game.
For the second time in the innings, the Windies appeared set to clean up the Proteas but they found resistance in Boucher and Dale Steyn who posted another 86 for the eighth wicket.
Boucher, playing only his third innings of the tour, batted sensibly to revive the innings, scoring four fours and a six in an innings that lasted 146 balls.
Steyn provided tremendous support with 39 from 73 balls, lashing four fours and two sixes – the first of which was his second scoring shot that sailed over long-on off Shillingford.
The partnership was ended when Steyn fell prey to his impetuosity, heaving wildly at Benn and being stumped by Denesh Ramdin at 324 for eight.
Morne Morkel provided Benn’s fifth wicket when he played on for two at 330 for nine and Boucher was the last to fall trying to find quick runs, holding out to Nelon Pascal on the long-off boundary off medium pacer Dwayne Bravo.