One advantage of the time difference between here and Paris (5 hours behind) is that, once Ronnie the rooster has awoken me, I can tune in and watch live coverage of the French open being played at Roland Garros. I am not a huge tennis fan but I am keen to watch the Grand Slams as they guarantee me an opportunity to watch the best players in the world. You might be wondering why I should bring this subject up so I will now explain.

There is a product called Ping.Net Broadband that is being advertised out here at the moment and I am sure that the 45 second commercial is set by computer and not in the hands of an individual whose job it is to play the commercial whilst the players are resting between games. More than once, with the score on match point and the server about to throw the ball in the air, the Ping.Net commercial kicks in and by the time it is over, so is the match and both players are shaking hands with the umpire and beginning to pack up their raquets and leave the court. How annoying is that!!!?

Today’s match was played on the same pitch as on Friday but had less moisture in it at the start of the match. Chris Gayle won the toss and chose to take strike, the first time he has done so in any of the matches. This proved fruitful for the home team as they posted 303-6, the highest total of the series. The main contributors being Dale Richards (59 from 73 balls) Dwayne Bravo (46 from 51), Shivnarine Chanderpaul (66 from 89), before Darren Bravo and Keiron Pollard made the most of the batting power play as they put on 45 in the 22 balls that they faced together during that time with Bravo going on to make a very impressive 45 from 33 deliveries.

South Africa started well again with Graeme Smith and Hashim Amla putting on another half century partnership but it was Amla who went on to play quite beautifully, scoring at more than a run a ball throughout his hundred which was the best I have seen him make. His strokeplay was masterful and with Jacques Kallis, laid the foundation for all to come. The actual victory didn’t come without incident or without drama. The West Indies fielded poorly with catches going down at critical times, Sulieman Benn was not prepared to do what his captain required of him and left the field, leaving us to draw our own conclusions. The third umpire should have overruled the on field umpire who signalled a four for a Duminy six and finally it came down to a last ball affair as De Villiers, by his own admission, struggled to find the middle of the bat. At the end of the day, South Africa won their sixth straight match of the tour. Once again, well played the Proteas!