Cricket: Pollock the predator picks off West Indies

S Africa 245 and 143 for 5 West Indies 121

SOUTH AFRICA took complete command of the second Test yesterday, their bowlers exploiting an accommodating pitch and glaring West Indian deficiencies, with the depth of their batting again proving decisive.

Observing the length and line required by a grass-covered surface, Shaun Pollock, Allan Donald and their new accomplice, David Terbrugge, routed the West Indies for 121. In spite of the efforts of Curtly Ambrose and Courtney Walsh to retrieve an impossible situation, South Africa were 143 for 5 when fading light ended play. The overall lead was 247 and only a miracle, or the weather, can now deny South Africa a 2-0 series lead.

Another enthralling day's cricket saw 17 wickets fall for 196 before Jonty Rhodes and Pollock batted through the last hour and a half. But whereas Ambrose and Walsh lacked support from their potential successors, Nixon McLean and Merv Dillon, Terbrugge delivered three crushing blows to the West Indies' middle-order.

The visitors could not recover from 67 for 6, while in contrast, South Africa's late order moved from 142 for 7 to 245 all out in the first innings and Rhodes, unbeaten on 50, and Pollock, on 40, have rebuilt the second from 53 for 5.

Terbrugge bowled Stuart Williams and Carl Hooper and Donald took care of Brian Lara, while Pollock finished with five wickets in a Test innings for the seventh time.

When Hansie Cronje was run out, the West Indies could see a glimmer of hope. Rhodes and the ubiquitous Pollock quickly snuffed it out.

Second day; West Indies won toss

SOUTH AFRICA - First innings

(Overnight 223 for 8)

P L Symcox b McLean 36

A A Donald c Hooper b Walsh 34

D J Terbrugge not out 2

Extras (b4 lb6 w1 nb14) 25

Total (70.4 overs) 245

Fall (cont): 9-241.

Bowling: Ambrose 17-6-28-2 (nb5); Walsh 23.4-0-87-4 (w1, nb7); McLean 19-4-66-2 (nb2); Dillon 11-1-54-1.

WEST INDIES - First innings

S C Williams b Terbrugge 37

C B Lambert c Cronje b Pollock 0

*B C Lara c Cullinan b Donald 4

C L Hooper b Terbrugge 15

S Chanderpaul lbw b Pollock 4

R D Jacobs b Terbrugge 1

F L Reifer c Boucher b Pollock 0

N A M McLean c Cronje b Donald 31

C E L Ambrose b Pollock 12

M V Dillon c Rhodes b Pollock 9

C A Walsh not out 2

Extras (lb1 nb5) 6

Total (37.3 overs) 121

Fall: 1-0 2-31 3-58 4-63 5-64 6-67 7-75 8-103 9-112.

Bowling: Donald 10-1-33-2; Pollock 13.3-2-43-5 (nb5); Terbrugge 9-4-27- 3; Kallis 3-1-8-0; Symcox 2-0-9-0.

SOUTH AFRICA - Second Innings

G Kirsten c Jacobs b Walsh 2

H H Gibbs c Lambert b Ambrose 4

J H Kallis c Jacobs b Ambrose 3

D J Cullinan c Lambert b Walsh 10

*W J Cronje run out 24

J N Rhodes not out 50

S M Pollock not out 40

Extras (lb 5 nb 5) 10

Total (for 5, 45 overs) 143

Fall: 1-5 2-9 3-11 4-47 5-53.

To bat: M V Boucher, P L Symcox, A A Donald, D J Terbrugge.

Bowling: Ambrose 510-3-23-2 (nb1); Walsh 14-3-35-2 (nb4); McLean 19-4- 66-2 (nb2); Dillon 11-1-54-1.

Umpires: R Kortzen and D R Shepherd (Eng).