West Indies claw back late on day two against South Africa

SOUTH African captain Temba Bavuma and opening batsman Tony de Zorzi both scored half-centuries against the West Indies on August 8 in the first Test at the Queen’s Park Oval, St Clair as the visitors closed day two on 344 for eight.

After just 15 overs were available on day one due to heavy showers, the Windies bowlers had a long day on the field on a humid day — hurling down a total of 98 overs in the day’s play and grabbing seven wickets along the way.

Though not scoring at a fast pace by any means, the South African batsmen were cruising along for most of the day on a flat surface and they progressed to 244 for four at the tea interval as they looked to assert their dominance. The hosts staged a timely fightback in the final session, though, grabbing four wickets in the period — including the scalps of the set Bavuma (86) and Ryan Rickelton (19) — to leave the game in the balance at the end of the day’s play.

Left-arm spinner Jomel Warrican (three for 66) was integral to West Indies’ showing in the last session, and he took two smart return catches off consecutive deliveries to send the pair of Kyle Verreynne (39) and Keshav Maharaj (golden duck) back to the pavilion.

Wiaan Mulder (37 not out), who shared in a 57-run partnership for the seventh wicket with Verreynne, saw South Africa to the close of play with Kagiso Rabada (12 not out).

With the Windies playing just three seamers, they had their work cut out for them on a surface which offered little assistance to the bowlers.

Resuming from their overnight score of 45 for one, the visitors were set back early in the first session when Tristan Stubbs (20) was dismissed by Kemar Roach (two for 53) thanks to a fine, low catch at second slip by Jason Holder.

South Africa were 86 for two at the fall of Stubbs’ wicket, and they looked to be assuming a measure of control when de Zorzi was joined in the middle by Bavuma. After putting on 51 in a patient partnership with his captain, de Zorzi (78) fell just before the lunch interval as he offered a simple catch to Kavem Hodge after attempting a cheeky reverse sweep off the miserly Warrican.

South Africa went to lunch at 152 for three.

With the score on 182 for three, Hodge put down a sharp chance at square leg as Bavuma pushed his score to 38. The South African skipper went on to notch his 21st Test fifty, but he lost partner David Bedingham (29) to an excellent diving catch on the square leg boundary by debutant Keacy Carty — giving Jayden Seales his first Test wicket at the Oval venue.

Bavuma found another ally in Rickelton, and the pair put on 57 runs for the fifth wicket, one of four 50-run partnerships in the innings.

After moving the score along to 244 at tea without any further loss, South Africa were rocked at the start of the final session as the Windies got two quick scalps with the new ball.

With the second ball after the tea interval, the 36-year-old Roach trapped Rickelton lbw to leave the Proteas on 244 for five, with Bavuma following via the same route to a fired-up Seales just 27 runs later.

With South Africa on 271 for six, the momentum appeared to be drifting towards the West Indies, but the visitors responded with a 57-run stand between Verreynne and Mulder, with both batsmen paying particular liking to the spinners.

Just past 5 pm and with play winding down, Warrican showed off shrewd fielding skills to dismiss both Verreynne and Maharaj in quick succession to ensure the hosts had the final say on an uninterrupted day.

After losing 75 overs to rain on day one, both Bavuma and host captain Kraigg Brathwaite will hope for their teams to put their noses in front when day three bowls off from 9.30 am on August 9.

Summarised Scores:

SOUTH AFRICA: 344/8 (Temba Bavuma 86, Tony De Zorzi 78, Kyle Verreynne 39, Wiaan Mulder 37 not out; Jomel Warrican 3/66, Kemar Roach 2/53) vs WEST INDIES.

The post West Indies claw back late on day two against South Africa appeared first on Trinidad and Tobago Newsday.