Battling centuries fail to halt Proteas

Ramnaresh Sarwan and Shivnarine Chanderpaul scored courageous centuries but South Africa won the second Test by an innings and 65 runs.

Ramnaresh Sarwan (114) and Shivnarine Chanderpaul (109) scored courageous centuries but South Africa won the second Test against the West Indies on Monday by an innings and 65 runs.

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South Africa bowled out the visitors for 329 to win with a day left and take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the four-Test series.

The West Indies had been dismissed for 264 in their first innings to which South Africa replied with 658 for nine declared, a record total on their home territory.

Paceman Makhaya Ntini took three for 72 in the West Indies second innings to end the year with 59 wickets and become the bowler who has taken the most Test wickets in the world in 2003.

Sarwan faced 225 balls and hit 18 fours. Chanderpaul struck 20 fours and a six from the 171 balls he faced.

It was a particularly gutsy display by both men.

On 29, Sarwan was felled by a short delivery from Ntini and lay prone for several minutes while receiving treatment before rising to continue his innings.

Chanderpaul had to bat with a runner because of a thigh injury that kept him off the field on Sunday.

The two men shared a sixth-wicket partnership of 113 but the South Africans were not to be denied.

The visitors had started the day on 18 without loss, but quickly slipped to 32 for two.

Wavell Hinds was bowled for 11 by a yorker from paceman Andre Nel and fellow opener Daren Ganga (12) was trapped lbw by Shaun Pollock.

Sarwan and Brian Lara added 46 for the third wicket, but the partnership ended in the fifth over before lunch when Lara (11) played a loose shot to a ball from Andrew Hall and was caught by Neil McKenzie in front of square on the leg side.

UPPISH DRIVE

Five balls before lunch Carlton Baugh, on two, drove uppishly at a delivery from Jacques Kallis and was caught by Ntini at mid-off.

The visitors slumped to 130 for five in the 11th over after lunch when Ridley Jacobs drove a ball from leg-spinner Jacques Rudolph to Gary Kirsten at mid-off to be dismissed for 15.

Sarwan and Chanderpaul kept the home side at bay until an hour after tea when Sarwan dragged a ball from Ntini on to his leg stump.

Eight overs later Vasbert Drakes was out for four when he fended a delivery from Nel to Rudolph at short leg.

Two balls after that it was 277 for eight after Merv Dillon edged a drive off Nel to third slip.

Chanderpaul fell to a brilliant leaping catch by McKenzie off Ntini as the West Indies dwindled to 317 for nine and the match ended when wicketkeeper Mark Boucher dived to his right to take the catch that dismissed Fidel Edwards for five.

South African captain Graeme Smith did not take the field on Monday because of a strained hamstring.

The home side won the first Test by 189 runs. The third Test starts in Cape Town on Friday.