After a long wait before the start of play and an early lunch, West Indies came out with new confidence and spirit and their bowlers rattle SA in the second session, day 3 at St. Lucia.
Earlier, the start of play was interrupted by rain and it was a nightmare for South Africa as they have not had a good start of the day after losing as many as 6 wickets in the second session of the day for only 63 runs in 24 overs.
Then another rain shower interrupted the play and forced the players to go back inside to end the second session earlier.
After a huge lead of 149 runs in the second innings by SA on day 2, SA had full control of the driving seat but a flop show from their batsman on the second session of day 3 took them back to the wall.
Kemar Roach struck earlier to take off some pressure for their team after squaring up Aiden Markram with a little movement to get a nick off his bat straight into the hands of Jason Holder standing at slips on the third ball of innings.
Roach then smartly played with Dean Elgar’s mind with away deliveries. The South African captain, renowned for his reserve against deliveries outside the stumps but he ended up becoming a prey at one, fell for the inward angle created by the West Indian that came from around the stumps.
Keegan Peterson and Rassie Van Der Dussen took the responsibility on their shoulders to get SA from this crucial period until Kraigg Brathwaite’s bowling change put a spanner in the works.
Kyle Mayers had the luck going on towards his side as Petersen undid the little hard work he’d put in by chopping the stumps on a delivery that looked like an unharmful delivery, short and wide of off-stump.
Mayers didn’t add up the pace but his line and length were accurate enough for Kyle Verrynne to hang his bat out and nick behind Joshua Da Silva, SA struggling at 52 for 4.
These dismissals put serious pressure on Quinton De Kock, who was in fine touch as his last two Test innings included the massive knock of 141* and 96.
But West Indian bowlers didn’t let the South African wicketkeeper settle and turn things down for them. Jason Holder bowled a sensible delivery to leave de Kock in two minds whether to leave or play the long ball. Confused De Kock ended up playing the ball and paid the price for it by nicking it straight into the hands of the wicket-keeper.
Mayers went deeper into South Africa’s batting order and this time it was Wiaan Mulder who became the victim, he tried to attempt a drive on a ball that was full and wide but he ended up losing his wicket to an edge that went to Shai Hope’s hands at gully.
West Indies went from a state of being crushed following a batting collapse on Day 2 and the trail of 149 to being completely back in the business, having their mindsets clear before the start of play.
Keshav Maharaj only played nine dot balls before the rain showers came back to interrupt the play, forcing the umpires to announce an early Tea break. South Africa finding ways to come back on 63 for 6, taking their lead to 212 runs.
Brief scores: South Africa 298 & 63/6 (Rassie van der Dussen 22*; Kyle Mayers 3-14, Kemar Roach 2-26) lead West Indies 149 (Jermaine Blackwood 49, Shai Hope 43; Wiaan Mulder 1-3, Kagiso Rabada 2-24) by 212 runs.