Pollock again poses threat to the West Indies

"I would like everyone in the team to give at least another 15 percent, then perhaps we can make not only an effort to win a Test, but maybe match South Africa in terms of professionalism too." When Carl Hooper spoke these words at the pre-game press briefing, he must have thought, or at least hoped, that it would become reality. At the end of day one, I am not so sure that he would have been too pleased with the overall efforts.

Hooper should have been pleased initially, though. At 148/7, South Africa were, for the third time in this series, close to destruction. But for the third time, their captain, Shaun Pollock, promoting himself, if one can call it that, to No 8 after making a century in the last Test while batting at No 9, has come to his team's aid. At No 8 or No 9, Pollock is the best lower order batsman in the world.

Pollock, on 36 at the close, has so far put on 62 invaluable runs for the eighth wicket with Nicky Boje, who is 28 not out. Boje was dropped on 24 by Brian Lara at first slip - another sitter - off the bowling of Courtney Walsh, operating with the second new ball. But he has played some spanking drives and never looked fazed, even when he was dropped.

It was the orthodox left-arm spin of West Indies debutant Neil McGarrell which caused South Africa's initial problems. After the visitors had been asked to bat first, they caved in from 120/3 to 148/7 between lunch and tea. While McGarrell has had a very promising start to Test cricket - 4/57 from 34 overs - it could also be said that a few of the batsmen helped out, two of them being caught at mid-on and mid-off respectively.

Opener Herschell Gibbs was typically aggressive with twelve fours and two sixes in his 85 - the third time in the series that he has fallen in the 80s. He was South Africa's rock when all was crumbling about him and put on a useful 67-run partnership with Neil McKenzie who looked confident while batting and disappointed to be given out. He made 35 useful runs before the middle order disintegrated.

Hooper said: "It would have been nice to have had the South Africans out by the end of day one, but we are hoping that day two will allow us to do a bit better than we did on day one."

Now, Pollock, as he did in Barbados when he got 106 and 40, with some help from the competent Boje, will return to torment the West Indies again on the second day.

The West Indies will want to come back with new resolve, as they have recent history to remind them of South Africa's professionalism. Overall, the West Indies won the first two sessions, while South Africa won the last.

The first session on day two could be crucial. The West Indies will want to have the last three wickets by lunch, but if they do not, then South Africa will be in the driver's seat.