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Day 2 was even more miserable than Thursday's opening of the Second Test between West Indies and South Africa at Kensington Oval.

Day 1: 244 runs; five wickets; one century and two dropped catches.

Day 2: 210 runs; five wickets; another century and two more muffed catches.

All that after the South Africans had been reduced to 58 for 3 in the first sesssion of Day 1.

After starting optimistically yesterday, the West Indies faltered as the day wore on. By teatime, fans had lost their spirit as they watched two vital catches dropped against two century-makers; saw another hundred scored as South Africa posted their highest score against West Indies, and also their highest ninth-wicket partnership against their opponents.

By the close of play there was silence everywhere. No fans were waving flags; the shouting had turned to steupses and excitement to anger.

The two dropped catches featured Brian Lara spilling Daryll Cullinan's straightforward offer 15 yards inside the deep midwicket boundary off Carl Hooper's bowling. Then Chris Gayle grassed an offer from the other century-maker Shaun Pollock.

The ninth-wicket pair (Pollock and Allan Donald) destroyed West Indies' hopes of restricting the visitors to a reasonable first innings score following the dismissal of Cullinan for 134 before lunch.

Pollock was at his very best in accelerating to his century by moving from 75 to 100 from only 13 balls with the help of five fours, including three in succession off Mervyn Dillon.

It was his second Test century and was made on the home ground of his former teammate, coach and mentor, the late Malcolm Marshall.

It does mean a lot to me, Pollock said when asked how significant it was for him to achieve the landmark here.

This is where he (Marshall) played most of his cricket. It is special to get a hundred in Barbados. It's just a pity that he wasn't here to see it. Today, the biggest crowd yet is expected to pack into Kensington Oval, hopeful the West Indies batsmen will first reach the follow-on target of 255, and then go after the visitors' imposing score.

Carl Hooper's team faces a stern test over the next three days in trying to avoid a second successive defeat in the five-match series.

But the crowds are still expected to rally round the West Indies . . . and show their love by wearing red.

© The Barbados Nation