5 final day performances to save a Test

#4 South Africa against West Indies at Guyana, 2005 Sir Vivian Richards Trophy

A marathon partnership between Kallis and Gibbs saved the match for South Africa

South Africa’s tour to the West Indies in 2005 witnessed a great escape act by the visitors, fashioned by their greatest ever cricketer, Jacques Kallis. In the 1^st Test of the 4-match series at Guyana, the West Indians rode on double centuries from Wavell Hinds and Shivnarine Chanderpaul to declare their first innings at 543 for 5.

The South African first innings, though, turned out to be a disaster as they were blown away for just 188, courtesy of a special effort by the home side’s pacers. West Indies enforced the follow on and the Proteas ended Day 4 at 85 for 2 with Kallis and Jacques Rudolph at the crease.

Rudolph hung around with Jacques Kallis for almost the entire 1^st session of play on Day 5 but finally got out for 24 off 152 balls. His dismissal brought Herschelle Gibbs to the crease, who put together a match-saving partnership of 139 runs in 67.2 overs with Kallis.

With just about 7 overs left for South Africa to negotiate, Gibbs fell after scoring 49 off 206 balls. However, Jacques Kallis’ unbeaten 109 ensured that the tourists pulled off a fighting draw.