Tony Becca, Contributing Editor

Marlon Samuels ... the key to another West Indian victory? - Reuters

THE WEST Indies take on South Africa in the second Test of their three-match series in Cape Town starting today and, for the first time in a long time, they are bubbling with confidence and walking with a swagger.

After failing to win a Test match against any of the top-seven teams away from home since 2000, and after failing to win a Test match against any team anywhere since May 2005, the West Indies, labelled underdogs by all and sundry, turned up in Port Elizabeth for the first Test and walked away with a victory that shocked South Africa and surprised the world.

In a grand performance, the West Indies, scoring 408 and 175, and dismissing the home team for 195 and 260, cut down South Africa, won the match by 128 runs inside four days and, instead of being one down and timid and fearful going into the next match, they are one up and raring to go.

With the West Indies boasting a 1-0 lead, a draw or a victory for South Africa would set up an exciting finish.

If, however, the West Indies win and take a 2-0 lead it would be all over for South Africa, it would be embarrassing for the number-two ranked team in the world and, because of that, this could be a contest to remember.

Can West Indies rise?

With the underdogs at the start in front and hunting a series victory that would stun the world, with the early favourites under pressure and fighting for survival, this match - the second in a series which was expected to be a mere formality but which has turned out to be a test of South Africa's resolve - this battle in the shadow of Table Mountain, promises to be a battle royal: a bruising encounter.

The question is this: Can the West Indies, despite their almost perfect performance in Port Elizabeth, rise to the occasion once again and win again? The answer is this: It will be difficult, but it is not impossible.

It will be difficult for the simple reason that one swallow does not a summer make. That lightning, it is said, does not strike the same place twice.

That but for the possible inclusion of Neil McKenzie at the expense of Herschelle Gibbs, it will be the same players with almost the same statistics opposing each other and that a wounded lion is a dangerous enemy.

Victory possible

It also will be difficult, not only because the West Indies batting has a tendency to self-destruct - as it did in the second innings in Port Elizabeth - but also because South Africa (in captain Graeme Smith, A.B. de Villiers, Ashwell Prince and Jacques Kallis, Andre Nel, Dale Steyn, Makhaya Ntini and Paul Harris) have some superb batsmen and some wonderful bowlers, including a left-arm spinner.

On top of that, South Africa, winners of their previous four series and next to Australia in the ICC rankings, know how to win, are accustomed to winning and, with their pride dented, they are expected to come out fighting - to throw everything at the high-riding West Indies.

As difficult as it may be, however, unlike the first Test when victory was considered out of the West Indies' reach, victory for the West Indies this time around is possible. An it is the same players up against the same players when they were considered rank outsiders in the first Test, it is possible for a number of reasons.

Reason number one is that confidence is important in winning and the players are bursting with confidence.

Reason number two is that the dangerous Gayle, who slammed a magnificent 116 in Cape Town back in 2003, and the dependable Shivnarine Chanderpaul are in the team.

Reason number three is that Daren Powell, Jerome Taylor and Fidel Edwards, supported by Dwayne Bravo, are bowling fast and accurate and are swinging the ball and moving it off the seam.

Reason number four is that the team is fielding brilliantly; and reason number five is that having won once, they can win again.

Dependent on Samuels

It could, however, all depend on Marlon Samuels. Coming in at number four, he is key to the performance of the team as far as batting is concerned - and especially so if the West Indies lose two wickets early or two wickets in succession.

Samuels can be the difference between a small total and an imposing one, an South Africa should again start favourites, and especially so at Newlands where they have won 12 matches and lost only three - all to Australia - if he bats as well as he did in Port Elizabeth, a bet on the West Indies could be a good investment.