Any triumph, even against an amalgamation of familiar opponents, past and present, recalled retirees and promising youngsters, would be a welcome tonic for the West Indies in their present state.
The elation that followed the 3-1 result in the preceding ODIs over enthusiastic, but weak, opposition in Zimbabwe was a case in point. The magnitude of the challenge that awaits them in the coming two months in South Africa is quite different and was obvious in their opening match against Makhaya Ntini’s XI at Buffalo Park in East London last night.
Organised to initiate the benefit year for the smiling fast bowler voted South Africa’s most popular sportsman for two years in succession and allocated 25 overs an innings, it was hardly a serious contest. But it did matter to the West Indies.
Rain that threatened the longer the match went on had the final say in the defeat by five runs under the Duckworth/Lewis method. Well before then it was clear the West Indies were the second best team.
Nowhere was the difference more evident than in the out cricket. It has become a recurring theme.
The West Indies offered up 20 wides and three no-balls as Ntini’s team posted 176 for nine. Their opponents gave away just two wides.
Shaun Pollock, the perennial all-rounder whose 54 off 45 balls guided the South Africans from a shaky 93 for six to their final tally, smashed the mandatory free hits from two successive no-balls from Rawl Lewis for four and six and another from Pedro Collins for another six.
It is a mind-boggling that more than a dozen years into his first-class career, Lewis, a leg-spinner who delivers from eight paces, should still not have eliminated a simple problem that has been within him from the start.
It is the story of so many present West Indian players, such as Marlon Samuels for instance. The lackadaisical approach that has resulted in a shameful waste of natural talent was evident once again as he slashed wildly at his sixth ball and edged to wicket-keeper Mark Boucher off fast bowler Ngam.
In the field, the West Indies often fumbled and hurled their returns either wide or short of wicket-keeper Denesh Ramdin.
Ntini’s team were consistently sharp, not least Jonty Rhodes. Now 38 and four years into retirmenent, he was as sprightly at cover point as in his heyday.
And Pollock, aged 34, ran out the hapless Devon Smith off his own bowling with a direct hit at the bowler’s end.
The West Indies could take most satisfaction from the bowling of Fidel Edwards. In his first match on tour – he did not play in Zimbabwe – he combined lively pace with control and early outswing, The sight of two of
Herschelle Gibbs’ stumps flying through the air was early reward.
He also had Pollock caught at long-off with his first ball of a second spell and held a superb running catch in the outfield.
Shivnarine Chanderpaul batted with calm assurance for 44 from 27 balls before tapping a return catch to Paul Adams, the obzocky left-arm spinner who has faded from international cricket as quickly as he entered it.
It was the first outing in South Africa but the stay in Zimbabwe should have been enough to dust off the rust.
In truth, there was little for the West Indies to be enthused about two days before they meet South Africa for the first time in Twenty20, known here as the Pro20, International in Port Elizabeth tomorrow.
