WI vs SA 2024, WI vs SA 1st Test Match Report, August 07 - 11, 2024

West Indies 145 for 4 (Carty 42, Louie 35, Brathwaite 35,Maharaj 3-45) path South Africa 357 (Bavuma 86, De Zorzi 78, Warrican 4-69, Seales 3-67) by 212 runs

Keshav Maharaj bowled 28 overs unchanged from the Media Centre Finish, albeit with weather-related interruptions, as South Africa pissed off West Indies on the third day of a rain-affected Take a look at. The squeeze solely introduced 4 wickets, and with 90 minutes misplaced within the day and extra rain on the way in which, the possibilities of victory for both aspect appears slim, however South Africa will take into account themselves as having the higher hand.

West Indies are 212 runs behind on a gradual, dry pitch, and runs proceed to be laborious to come back by. South Africa solely added 13 runs to their in a single day rating however managed their highest first innings whole in 9 away Checks since Christchurch 2022 however wanted fast wickets to make it rely. They had been blunted by the West Indies’ line-up and dedicated a couple of lapses within the discipline on a floor unsuited to urgency.

Batting has been laboured up to now and the early indicators on the third morning had been that it will grow to be much more troublesome. The second ball, from Jayden Seales, saved low and Wiaan Mulder was lucky that it didn’t seam again in sufficient to take out off stump.

Nonetheless, South Africa appeared to have a transparent directive to attain rapidly and Kagiso Rabada led the cost. He flicked Seales by way of backward sq. leg after which tried a drive however edged vast of second slip in a productive over. His intent didn’t final lengthy. Rabada confronted 5 extra balls earlier than Jomel Warrican discovered the sting and Joshua da Silva did the remaining. Seales completed off when he bowled Lungi Ngidi six balls later to finish South Africa’s innings 20 minutes into the session. They added simply 13 runs to their in a single day rating.

West Indies had been within the discipline for 117.4 overs and would have had sufficient time to know that batting can be robust particularly towards South Africa’s greatest. Kagiso Rabada and Lungi Ngidi shared the brand new ball and had completely different however equally testing questions for the openers. Rabada saved it full, Ngidi was extra again of a size, and West Indies managed solely 23 runs of their first ten overs. Mulder, enjoying because the third seamer, changed Ngidi however when Rabada’s spell ended, South Africa had been pressured to show to spin early.

Maharaj was given the ball within the thirteenth over and got here near an early breakthrough. In his second over, Maharaj drew Kraigg Brathwaite ahead and induced the sting, which lobbed low however carried to Aiden Markram at slip. Nonetheless, he couldn’t maintain on. Brathwaite was on 7 off 43 balls on the time. Brathwaite went on to chop Maharaj by way of level for his first 4 however, very like South Africa’s captain Temba Bavuma on day two, was content material to spend time on the crease and let the runs come from the opposite finish.

Mikyle Louis was extra proactive, significantly by way of the covers, with 4 of his 5 boundaries coming in that area. He hit the one that took West Indies to fifty which was additionally the fourth half-century opening stand between him and Brathwaite in three Checks and helped West Indies practically get by way of the session unscathed. However, the ball earlier than lunch, Louis performed for flip to a Maharaj arm ball and was bowled.

Play was delayed for 55 minutes after the scheduled second-session restart, however one over later, rain pressured one other 20-minute break. The interruptions had no impact on Brathwaite’s focus as he hit Maharaj for six three overs into the second session, however left it to Keacy Carty to do a lot of the attacking. On debut, Carty impressed together with his assuredness and performed the shot of the day when he obtained up on his toes to punch Rabada behind level for 4.

With their choices restricted to 4 frontline bowlers, South Africa needed to maintain Maharaj at one finish – and he saved Brathwaite quiet for a interval by which the West Indian captain scored simply 6 runs off 37 balls from him – and rotate by way of the three seamers and issues turned pedestrian. None of them appeared like taking a wicket however an opportunity got here within the discipline when Carty, on 28, defended a Mulder ball to level and took off a run however had Ryan Rickelton to deal with. Carty turned again and if Rickelton’s throw was correct he would have been caught wanting his floor however the ball went vast and Carty batted on. Three overs later, Carty was on 32 and hit Maharaj aerially to cowl. Tristan Stubbs ran again to take the catch over his shoulder however misjudged and spilled it.

Simply when South Africa could have grow to be disheartened, a sedate Brathwaite hit Ngidi to Mulder at mid-on and ran for the one however a direct hit discovered him on the road and out on the stroke of tea. Brathwaite 35 runs took 131 balls, and he maintains the bottom strike fee amongst batters who’ve scored 5,000 Take a look at runs since 2001. With the interval, got here the rain and there was an extra 35 minute delay earlier than the beginning of the final session.

Seven balls into the night, a Maharaj ball ended Carty’s debut innings because it skidded and struck him on the entrance pad. Aiden Markam, working as South Africa’s second spinner, might have had one other 5 overs later when Kavem Hodge, on 3, edged however Kyle Verreynne didn’t react rapidly sufficient to carry on. As an alternative, Markram was the fielder when Maharaj struck once more within the subsequent over. Alick Athanaze edged an arm ball to Markam to slide. Markram and Maharaj bowled out a lot of the remainder of the session, other than a closing late burst by Rabada, who couldn’t take away both Hodge or Jason Holder.

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