A maiden test century, the first by a West Indian against South Africa, from vice-captain and wicket-keeper Ridley Jacobs was the highlight of an oustanding - and initially somewhat bizarre - day of cricket in the third Test at the Kensington Oval. The innings was also the inspiration for a determined West Indian bowling effort in the final two hours, as South Africa were reduced to 52-3 in their second innings, a lead of 119, after the West Indies were bowled out for 387.

Captain Carl Hooper shuffled his bowlers around apparently at whim, but at almost every turn he was rewarded. First Cameron Cuffy opened the bowling instead of Mervyn Dillon and in his first over dismissed Gary Kirsten off a leading edge to third slip for a duck, giving the left-hander a 'pair' for the first time in 71 Tests.

Then Hooper brought himself on first change and snapped up Herschelle Gibbs (19), the opener leaning forwards and offering a simple bat-pad chance to Ramnaresh Sarwan at short-leg. In the 16th over, Dinanath Ramnarine - already the fifth bowler used by Hooper - got one to turn sharply and take the edge of Neil McKenzie's bat. McKenzie caught behind for 12, and the man he stepped up the order to relieve, Jacques Kallis, forced to come to the wicket.

Earlier, Kallis shouldered a heavy burden with the ball, taking a career-best 6-67 as South Africa had to do without the injured Allan Donald.

Jacobs was the real crowd-pleaser though, requiring just 161 balls to reach his hundred, and striking ten fours and four sixes, two each off Nicky Boje and Makhaya Ntini. In fact, Jacobs moved into three figures in the grand - if somewhat streaky - manner, with a top-edge for six off Ntini over fine-leg. The Kensington Oval crowd had been waiiting for something special to celebrate, and they certainly made the most of the opportunity as Cuffy gave Jacobs a huge bear-hug before he could even raise his bat to acknowledge them.

For a man who had twice been stranded in the nineties, most recently only two weeks ago in Trinidad, the hundred was richly deserved.

There was one escape for the left-hander on 56 when he nudged Boje to the left of Daryll Cullinan at first slip, the fielder not quite quick enough to get his hands to a sharp chance.

Contrary to most predictions, the West Indian tail stood up well, Jacobs and Mervyn Dillon (14) sharing 64 for the seventh wicket and Jacobs and Ramnarine (6) 37 for the eighth.

All this after captain Hooper was caught behind without adding to his overnight 74 off a peach from Kallis, who got one to move away late and take the edge. It was just the sixth ball of the day, but took the better part of an hour to be bowled after a 56-minute delay in the morning session.

The hiatus was caused by crumbling footholds of particular concern to Kallis and the rest of the South African bowlers, and umpire Steve Bucknor suspended play to allow the groundstaff to carry out the necessary repairs.

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