West Indies are staring defeat in the face on the final day of the first Test against South Africa and their captain, Brian Lara, may collect his second world record in as many days.
Set an improbable 378 to win in 100 overs, the tourists had their top order blown away by the hostility of Makhaya Ntini and will resume this morning on 31 for three needing another 347 to win but, in reality, facing 90 overs to save the game.
In 127 years of Test cricket only 10 men have scored a double century and finished on the losing side. Today that number could be 12 and Lara is likely to become the first man to suffer the fate twice. Depending on the result of the Test between Australia and India in Adelaide, either Ricky Ponting (242) or Rahul Dravid (233) will definitely join that list.
Having resumed yesterday on 178 Lara hammered some mag nificent cover drives to reach 202 from just 274 balls before being caught at deep extra cover. A total of 410 was a respectable reply to South Africa's 561 but deficits in the region of 151 are often fatal in Tests.
The home side's second innings was not a thing of beauty and they laboured to a declaration at 226 for six - allowing for 10 more overs in the day.
Ntini then ripped out Wavell Hinds' off-stump before doing the same to the nightwatchman Vasbert Drakes and snaring Daren Ganga lbw.