Gros Islet – West Indies again failed to ease concerns about their batting before tea in the second Test against South Africa in St. Lucia.
At the break, the Windies were 56 for four, replying to South Africa’s first innings total of 298, on the rain-affected second day of the Test at the Daren Sammy Cricket Ground with Shai Hope not out on 25 and Jermaine Blackwood not out on two.
After their bowlers, led by Kyle Mayers and Kemar Roach, did well to bowl out South Africa before lunch, the top order batting of the Caribbean side crumbled under skilful bowling from the visitors.
West Indies captain Kraigg Brathwaite fell to the very first ball of the innings, when he was caught behind, down the leg-side off pacer Kagiso Rabada, a dismissal that required the South Africans to belatedly review umpire Gregory Brathwaite’s not out verdict.
Kieran Powell was adjudged lbw to pacer Lungi Ngidi for five, trapped on the crease by a well-pitched delivery. The left-hander unsuccessfully reviewed umpire Joel Wilson’s decision and ball tracking technology suggested the delivery would have clipped the top of the stumps.
West Indies were eight for two and Roston Chase joined Hope and stemmed the fall of wickets before he was caught at short square leg off pacer Anrich Nortje for four, turning a delivery straight into the lap of fielder Kyle Verreynne.
Mayers tried to counter-attack, but left-arm spinner Keshav Maharaj had him caught at slip for 12, essaying a loose drive in the final half-hour before the break.
West Indies trail 0-1 in the two-Test series, after they crashed to an innings and 63 runs defeat inside three days in the first Test, which ended last Saturday at the same venue.
Though the Vivian Richards Trophy, symbol of Test supremacy between the two sides, is destined to return to Johannesburg, West Indies will be aiming to square the series and avoid their first series defeat of the year.
Summarised scores:
South Africa 298 (Quinton de Kock 96, Dean Elgar 77, Kyle Verreynne 27, Kagiso Rabada 21 not out, Keshav Maharaj 12; Kyle Mayers 3-28, Kemar Roach 3-45, Shannon Gabriel 2-65).
West Indies 56 for four (Shai Hope 25 not out, Kyle Mayers 12).
(AR)
