West Indies batsman Chris Gayle, plays a shot during the third day of the final cricket test match between South Africa and West Indies at Super Sport Park in Pretoria, South Africa, yesterday. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)
THE differences between the two teams throughout this series have been as wide as the ocean that separates them but were never more glaringly obvious than on the first three days of the final Test here.
On the first two, South Africa amassed a total of 604 for six declared against West Indies bowlers who utterly wasted the first use of the most helpful pitch of the series.
Unable to locate roughly the same line and length for six consecutive balls, the West Indies' attack sprayed 13 wides among a generous offering of long-hops and leg-side half-volleys that were savaged for eight sixes and 70 fours.
When it came South Africa's turn yesterday, their well equipped fast bowling staff kept probing away on the requisite length around off-stump, swinging the ball away in the air or jagging it back sharply off the pitch.
There was not a single wide in the 98.3 overs they sent down as they repeatedly unsettled uncertain bats, finding the outside edge five times for catches to keeper or slips, the inside edge three times for diversions back into the stumps.
At the end of it all, South Africa's ruthless efficiency had carried them within sight of another emphatic victory to round off the series.
Their uncompromising first innings 604 for six declared, after they were sent in by Brian Lara, clearly deflated much of optimism the West Indies regained following their stimulating draw in the third Test.
Their wellequipped fast bowling staff, with the aggressive Makhaya Ntini and Andre Nel once more to the fore, capitalised on their opponents' diminished confidence as much as the pitch to steadily reduce the West Indies to 301 all out.
As he has been throughout the series, Ntini was a handful. His pace was lively, his inward movement off the pitch sharp and his line direct.
His five for 49 was his third such return in the series. Nel supported him with three for 64.
After Graeme Smith enforced the inevitable follow-on, the two claimed another wicket each.
In addition, Chris Gayle had to retire hurt after two lengthy sessions of medical attention on the field could not properly revive him after he was struck a crippling blow by Ntini just above the protective box.
Once more the West Indies were grateful for an early end to the day because of fading light in spite of the aid of the floodlights that had once more been on for most of another overcast day- this time with eight overs available.
They start the fourth day 40 for two with the daunting prospect of needing another 259 to avoid their second innings loss in the series.
Among the late wickets was captain Lara, who endured the rarity of two dismissals in the same day, both to Nel for whom it was a happy start to his honeymoon following his overnight wedding.
Out for a scratchy 34 in the first innings to the first of wicket-keeper Mark Boucher's three catches off a tentative edge, the contemporary game's top-rated batsmen was lbw for six second time round, padding away a ball delivered from round the wicket.
It was the response of a disheartened captain at the end of a series he had hoped would atone for the 5-0 whitewash the West Indies suffered in the previous series here five years ago in his first tenure at the helm.
Nedding to bat through most of the last two days to prevent their third defeat, the West Indies lost opener Daren Ganga in the seventh over of the morning and others steadily thereafter.
As Ntini, Shaun Pollock, Nel and Jacques Kallis asked serious questions with their control of swerve and cut, a wicket never seemed very far away. Only Andrew Hall, a straightforward medium-pacer, offered any respite.
The left-handed Gayle had such difficulty locating deliveries that flashed past his outside edge in the first hour or so, he took an hour to add five to over overnight four.
By then, Ganga had edged to second slip and Ramnaresh Sarwan had been bowled leg-stump off the inside-edge driving, both to Ntini.
Suddenly, Gayle punched Nel to the cover boundary off the back foot and his mood changed.
He followed with a pulled four off Ntini, who he nearly decapitated with a fierce drive in the same over, and launched Nel over midoff for a huge six, followed next ball by a four over midon.
Apart from a pulled six off Nel, Lara was never himself. He was dropped, a difficult, low chance to Smith at fourth slip off Ntini at 11, and battled 78 balls to 34 when he snicked to Boucher four balls before lunch, taken at 139 for three.
Gayle, then 76, took no time to settle back in on resumption. He immediately offered an overhead, unaccepted slip catch to Kallis at second slip off Pollock's fourth ball on resumption and, in the next over, sliced a drive at Ntini to deep backward point, ending an innings with his six and 14 fours.
Dwayne Smith was a right-handed replay of Gayle's innings.
The young Barbadian did not seem to appreciate that this was not the same inviting pitch on which he scored his dashing hundred in the previous Test and missed more than he hit in the first half-hour or so.
But it did not deter him. As he became more accustomed to the unfamiliar conditions, he reeled off several astonishing shots, none more astonishing that a swivelling hook for six over long-leg off the stunned Kallis.
There were also eight fours of varying pedigree but it could not last. He had made 39 from 59 balls when he finally touched an expansive off-drive off Kallis' outswinger to Boucher.
Shivnarine Chanderpaul, the silent partner in a stand of 53, now changed his tempo.
Sweet drives on both side of the wicket and a neat steer to the third man boundary replaced stodgy defence and got him to 42 when he fell, like Lara and Ridley Jacobs before him, to catches from the outside edge, Pollock grasping the ball low at first slip.
His departure exposed the fast bowlers but aggressive - and classy - strokes by Vasbert Drakes and Merv Dillon, who each hit seven fours, saw to it that the total passed 300.
Ntini eventually bowled both, Drakes for 35 off the inside edge, Dillon for 30 with a yorker with the second new ball while Corey Collymore was Pollock's only victim.
The West Indies openers were back out within 10 minutes - and both were soon back in.
Gayle departed for more attention in the fifth over. Ganga followed him for 0 in the next, presenting a fragile defence to Ntini's break-back that cannoned into his off-stump.
Lara's was a more significant loss and Sarwan only remained to see out play through Jacques Rudolph who missed a glaring run out opportunity with the batsman on his hands and knees. As the West Indies are.