Skipper Aiden Markram lead the Day 2 in Guyana continued to be an eventful passage of Test match cricket, after 17 wickets fell on Day 1, with South Africa taking the ascendancy with a 239-run lead. The bowlers clipped off West Indies’ last-three wickets relatively quickly before Aiden Markram (51), Kyle Verreynne (50*) and Wiaan Mulder (34*) showed their grit and tenacity with the bat.
Aiden Markram and Kyle Verreynne both scored half centuries after a 79 run opening stand and an unbeaten 84-run sixth-wicket partnership between Verreynne and Wiaan Mulder – the highest of the series so far – all put South Africa in a strong position. But, with plenty of time left in the game, West Indies will not be too disheartened, especially as they have seen how quickly wickets fall early on.
South Africa bundle out West Indies to take slender lead of 16 runs in 1st innings
Left-arm seamer Nandre Burger shared the day’s opening duties with Rabada and started off bowling full but in his second over, began a short-ball assault to set up Seales. The first three deliveries of Burger’s third over of the day were increasingly short in length but his fourth was full on the stumps and Seales was struck on the pad and given out lbw.
South Africa could have ended West Indies’ innings on the next ball when Joseph edged Burger to Markram at second slip but he could not hold on to a head height catch. The drop proved costly as Joseph went on to score 25 – but was dropped again on 15 by Mulder a third slip – and provided strong support to Holder, who approached the first hour of play with aggression.
Jason Holder hit the last ball of Mulder’s first over on the day over long-on for six, to bring up the first half-century of the match and his 14th in Tests. Joseph took on Burger, and hit his short ball behind square leg and past point and then, just for laughs, sent the full one out of the ground. In his first over of the morning, Maharaj beat Joseph’s sweep and had him out lbw and South Africa were batting again 90 minutes into the day.
South Africa wasted no time in picking up from where they had left off overnight. Four overs after play commenced on Day 2, Jomel Warrican was caught at mid-on off Kagiso Rabada, the pacer’s first wicket in the game so far. Nandre Burger had Jayden Seales trapped in front for naught soon after, in what looked like a tame response by the West Indies.
But, Jason Holder brought up his fifty in style with a six over Mulder’s head while Shamar Joseph smashed Burger for two boundaries and a six in a 14-run over. Joseph found the boundary a couple more times before he was given out LBW after missing a slog-sweep. South Africa had gained a slender 16-run lead.
Aiden Markram and Kyle Verreynne fifties put South Africa in control on Day 2
Tony de Zorzi drove through covers in the first over of the innings for four while opening partner, Aiden Markram did so four balls later off Holder. Aiden Markram looked in fine touch finding the boundaries with relative ease and also pushing for threes. The pitch too had settled down with not as much lateral movement on offer in comparison to Day 1.
Aiden Markram dug into Seales after Lunch with three boundaries in an over. The pair brought up the fifty partnership within 10 overs, going at a healthy rate of five runs an over. The pair cashed in on the pacers wayward lengths and scored a boundary in the first six overs after lunch. De Zorzi departed nicking one to the keeper after a fine start and a good opening partnership. Aiden Markram was dropped on 42 by Alick Athanaze, in more frustration for the West Indies, few overs before Tea.
Aiden Markram nudged one to deep backward point to bring up his fifty, his third away from home. The southpaw was trapped in front by Gudakesh Motie off a ball which kept slightly low. Skipper Temba Bavuma, scored a streaky boundary of Motie but luck wasn’t on his side as the bowler had him rapped on the pads, sending him back to the sheds.
The resistant Tristan Stubbs fell, caught behind off Seales. West Indies had suddenly roared back with three quick wickets for just 14 runs. David Bedingham followed with a 10-ball duck, chopping a delivery back on to the stumps.
The visitors collapsed from 120 for 1 to 140 for 5 which brought Verreynne and Mulder to the crease. The latter was up and running with a boundary off a full toss. Verreynne almost chopped one on but it raced away for four. The two batters consolidated brilliantly after the mini collapse, finding the boundary quite regularly and rotating the strike to keep the scoreboard ticking. Warrican was finally brought on, in the 61st over, but Verreynne climbed into him soon with a boundary down long-on.
An opening stand of 79, half-centuries from Aiden Markram and Kyle Verreynne and an unbeaten 84-run sixth-wicket partnership between Verreynne and Wiaan Mulder – the highest of the series so far – all put South Africa in a strong position. But, with plenty of time left in the game, West Indies will not be too disheartened, especially as they have seen how quickly wickets fall early on.
South Africa lost four in the first session of day one and West Indies three on day two, which could provide West Indies with an opportunity early on the third day. The pitch is expected to be at its best on the third afternoon and West Indies will want to be batting by then, especially with a big chase in their sights.
Before they get there, West Indies will rely on their attack, particularly hometown hero Joseph, and Jayden Seales, who took 2 for 7 in his third spell, to get rid of South Africa’s middle and lower order. So far, they have held up well after a mini-collapse which saw South Africa lose 4 for 19 in nine overs after a solid start of 120 for 1.
South Africa’s openers were tested upfront with seam movement from Seales and tight lines from Holder. Markram edged Holder short of first slip at the end of his first over but settled when he drove Seales for four through cover point five balls later. Tony de Zorzi was hit on the back pad by Seales and flirted with a run-out chance when he pushed a single off Holder but pulled Seales off his toes to announce himself. South Africa went to lunch unscathed on 30 without loss.
Runs came quickly after the break and South Africa had more than doubled their morning score to 66 in 4.4 overs after the interval when they offered their first real chance. De Zorzi edged Holder to the left of wicketkeeper Joshua Da Silva, who dived low to try and take the catch but could not hold on. De Zorzi was on 36 off 41 at the time and added only three runs off the next 31 balls he faced before he nicked off to give Seales a well-earned reward. De Zorzi punched his bat in frustration as he walked off when the opening stand was broken.
Aiden Markram and Tristan Stubbs eked out six runs off the next four overs while they bided time but Stubbs’ patience seemed to be tested when he edged Gudakesh Motie past slip for three. Stubbs’ first boundary came off the 21st ball he faced when he reverse swept Motie through third but he did not look entirely comfortable at any point in the session.
He survived an lbw appeal off Holder and held his end through to tea. Markram was lucky to get there when, on 42, he drove Motie to Alick Athanaze at silly mid-off but was put down. South Africa were 111 for 1 at the tea break, 127 runs ahead.
Three overs into the final session, Aiden Markram reached 50 off 104 balls but seven balls after that was struck on the back foot to a Motie delivery that straightened and was given out lbw. Temba Bavuma could have been out on his third ball when he edged an away seamer from Joseph but it did not carry to slip. Motie had better luck when Bavuma went forward to a length ball, was hit on the pad. The umpire didn’t think it was out, but West Indies successfully reviewed to have the decision overturned.
That wicket sparked a mini-collapse. In the next over, Stubbs edged Seales to Da Silva and two overs after that David Bedingham was bowled to give Seales a second wicket in three overs and give the hosts a chance of keeping South Africa’s lead under 200. Mulder and Verreynne took them over that mark.
They were in danger of being separated 12 minutes before the end of play when Mulder was given out lbw in Seales’ fourth spell but he reviewed and ball-tracking showed it was missing leg. The pair accelerated towards the end of the day with 26 runs off the last four overs, which included Verreynne’s fifty off 71 balls – his third in Test cricket. All of his half-centuries, and his only Test hundred so far, have come away from home.
Road Ahead for West Indies and South Africa on Day 3
This 6th wicket partnership has helped SA immensely. They started off on a great note. Then lost the plot as they lost a lot of wickets in a phase. But then Wiaan Mulder and Verreynne got together to stop the rut. They have added 84 runs already and the Windies looked a little tired towards the end of the day and Mulder was very severe as he hit two sixes in the last two overs.
Earlier Markram got a fifty, de Zorzi missed a fifty and Stubbs got out after being set. SA looked a little on the back foot but as I said, Mulder and Verreynne arrested the slide first and then kept adding runs. The wicket has eased out for sure and the oldish ball is easier to play as well. 10 more overs and the second new ball would be available. The first session on day 3 will be very crucial.