Gros Islet – Kemar Roach gave West Indies an early breakthrough, after they suffered a terminal batting collapse after lunch, sparked by pacer Lungi Ngidi, and were bowled out for their lowest Test total against South Africa in the first Test in St. Lucia.
Roach had the South African captain Dean Elgar caught at third slip for a fifth ball duck, but Test newcomer Keegan Petersen, not out on 19, and Aiden Markram, not out 10, carried the visitors to 30 for one in their first innings at tea on the first day of the Test at the Daren Sammy Cricket Ground (DSCG).
Earlier, Jason Holder made the top score of 20, but no other Windies batsman reached that high-water mark, and the Caribbean side, strangely choosing to bat, were dismissed for 97 in their first innings about 45 minutes before the break.
Unable to cope with the bounce and movement off the live DSCG surface, the West Indies batting crumbled in the face of skilful bowling from Ngidi, who ended with a flattering five for 19 from 13.5 overs, and fellow pacer Anrich Nortje, who finished with four for 35 from 11 overs.
Resuming from a shaky 48 for four at lunch, the Windies lost vice-captain Jermaine Blackwood caught at gully off Nortje for five in the third over after the interval.
Next over, the home team suffered a double blow, when Roston Chase was caught at second slip off Ngidi for eight, fencing at a well-pitched delivery, and Joshua da Silva was caught at third slip off Ngidi for a fourth-ball duck, playing defensively forward.
West Indies were 56 for seven, and the burly Rahkeem Cornwall came to the crease and got them moving again before he was caught at short third man off Ngidi for 13.
There was token resistance from Kemar Roach before he was caught behind off Ngidi for one, playing defensively forward, and Jason Holder became the last scalp for Ngidi, when he was caught at second slip.
The Windies omitted Alzarri Joseph and Kieran Powell from their original final 11, handing recalls to Hope and Chase, as well as a debut cap to former West Indies Under-19 pacer, Jayden Seales.
The 19-year-old, Trinidad & Tobago Red Force pacer, Seales becomes the 326th player to play a Test for the Caribbean side.
But Nkrumah Bonner was diagnosed with a concussion after being struck by a short ball from Nortje and will take no further part in the match, making way for Powell to become a concussion substitute.
The South Africans have included Petersen and Kyle Verreynne as Test newcomers in their final 11.
Summarised scores:
WEST INDIES 97 (Jason Holder 20, Kraigg Brathwaite 15, Shai Hope 15, Rahkeem Cornwall 13, Nkrumah Bonner 10; Lungi Ngidi 13.5-7-19-5, Anrich Nortje 11-3-35-4). SOUTH AFRICA 30 for one (Keegan Petersen 19 not out, Aiden Makram 10 not out)
(AR)
