As it happened – West Indies vs South Africa, 1st Test, Beausejour Cricket Ground, Day 2
Anrich Nortje and Kagiso Rabada rattle West Indian batting order before Quinton De Kock’s brilliant 141 runs unbeaten innings Beausejour Cricket Ground on day 2 of a first test match.
West Indian batting order collapsed again as Anrich Nortje and Kagiso Rabada pluck the wires before the end of day 2 of the 1st Test match at Saint Lucia.
The duo combined their pace to pick up two wickets each to take WI on 82/4, trailing 143 runs. Before their power show, Quinton De Kock played a massive unbeaten inning of 141 runs followed by 12 fours and 7 maximums to put SA in a strong position.
Wickets that fell in the second innings of WI were not much of a batsmen’s fault but the pacers made good use of the new ball with terrifying pace and seam.
The skipper, Kraigg Brathwaite was a bit unfortunate as he got dismissed on a ball that kept low after seaming from length. Kieron Powell got a full-length ball from Rabada that nipped back and hit him on the front leg.
He reviewed the decision but the ball was hitting the stumps. Shai Hope was looking committed until Nortje edged him to the gully position.
Kyle Mayers was the next victim in the West Indian line-up who played a full-length ball tentatively and nicked behind off Nortje.
Jermaine Blackwood and Roston Chase managed to save for the day but the damage was already done by South African pacers and they are clearly in a strong position in the Test match.
A whole lot of credit goes to De Kock who managed to stay on the crease for the first two sessions although his fellow batsmen were coming and going.
West Indies was a bit slow at the start of the first session as they picked up the single wicket of Rassie van der Dussen. But they came back strong in the second session and Jason Holder was leading from the front, picked up Wiaan Mulder at the slips.
Kieron Pollard picked Keshav Maharaj for a 10 ball duck before Kemar Roach took the wicket of Rabada with the new ball.
SA was struggling at 233/8 with a lead below 150 but then came Nortje to take a position at non-striker’s end and he let De Kock play his shots to add the important runs.
Jayden Seales, Kyle Mayers, and Cornwall, all became the victims of De Kock’s classy shots. De Kock was dismissed at a time when he tried to hit big on the deep position and get caught but luck favors the brave as Holder was caught overstepping the crease.
The no-ball cost WI a big deal as De Kock and Nortje added another 79 runs in which the latter had just scored 7 runs. The partnership took the lead of SA to 225 which looks like a task for the hosts.
Brief scores: West Indies 97 & 82/4 (Roston Chase 21, Kieran Powell 14; Kagiso Rabada 2-18, Anrich Nortje 2-34) trail South Africa 322 (Quinton de Kock 141*, Aiden Markram 60; Jason Holder 4-75) by 143 runs.