SOUTH AFRICA v WEST INDIES: Jacques Rudolph's second Test hundred helped South Africa through the 300-run barrier before a mini-collapse late in the day hauled the touring West Indies back into the third Test in Cape Town.
South Africa reached the end of play on 308 for six, with experience at the crease in the shape of Shaun Pollock and Mark Boucher, and they will be relied upon to help the home side pick up the pieces following their slump.
Rudolph stroked his way to 101 - his first Test hundred on home soil - late in the afternoon, and South Africa had looked to be in supreme control at 304 for three with just five overs remaining in the day.
But then Rudolph went - trapped lbw by spinner Dave Mohammed- Paul Adams followed without scoring, and Neil McKenzie - with whom Rudolph had added 142 for the fourth wicket - also perished.
Pollock had two runs to his name, and Boucher had yet to score when stumps were drawn.
Scoreboard in SPORTS ROUND-UP
CROFT RETIRES: England yesterday lost the services of experienced off-spinner Robert Croft after he announced his retirement from international cricket to devote his time to captaining Glamorgan.
The 33-year-old, who played 21 Tests and 55 one-day internationals during an England career stretching back to 1996, made the decision following his failure to reclaim his place in the Test side during the recent tour to Sri Lanka.
Despite being called up as an extra spinner to supplement Ashley Giles and Gareth Batty, Croft was unable to persuade the management to include him in any of the three Tests and returned home shortly before Christmas having bowled only 14 overs on the trip.
"After a great deal of consideration and discussion with my family and the management of Glamorgan, I've come to the conclusion I will no longer offer myself for selection for any future England Test or one-day side," said Croft yesterday after informing chairman of selectors David Graveney of his decision.
Croft's best performances for England were, ironically, in Sri Lanka three years ago when he contributed with bat and ball and enabled the tourists to recover to claim the series 2-1 after losing the first Test in Galle.
He played a further Test the following summer against Australia at Trent Bridge but his refusal to tour India the following winter because of security fears in the aftermath of the September 11th terrorist attacks on America effectively ended his Test career.
That was underlined on the most recent tour when England continually overlooked his experience and stuck with Giles and Batty, who were unable to prevent Sri Lanka claiming their first ever Test series triumph with victory in the final Test at Colombo.
