South Africa dominate second session as West Indies look to chop down deficit

Tea West Indies 143 for six (Mayers 29, Chase 28, Coetzee 2-30, Rabada 2-19) path South Africa 320 (Markram 96, Mayers 3-32) by 177 runs

South Africa strengthened their grip on the second Test and lowered West Indies to the final remaining batting pair on a pitch that continues to supply one thing for everybody. With further bounce from one finish and switch from the opposite, South Africa’s three-seam, two-spin assault was pretty disciplined and waited for the West Indies’ batters to make errors. And the errors got here albeit barely fewer than in a wretched morning session, the place West Indies had been teetered on 51 for 4.

They scored 70 runs within the afternoon and solely misplaced two wickets – albeit necessary ones – and nonetheless have an enormous job to do to maintain the match aggressive because the weekend attracts nearer.

After stabilising the innings earlier than lunch, Roston Chase and Kyle Mayers batted with a superb mix of warning and aggression for a lot of the first ten overs after lunch. They capitalised on something overpitched and turned the strike over sedately however sensibly to stage one thing of a restoration. Their partnership had grown to 52 runs earlier than Chase tried to take Mulder on and failed. He superior on a full supply and inside-edged onto his pads earlier than the ball rolled again onto his stumps. A distraught Chase sunk to his knees, maybe figuring out he had opened the door into the decrease order, with West Indies nonetheless 217 runs behind.

Jason Holder’s first runs, a stunning straight drive, ensured South Africa should bat once more, however they are going to be eyeing a major go away with solely the decrease order to return.

West Indies’ issues began within the morning when their prime 4 was dismissed inside the primary 17 overs, because of sharp fielding and good bowling from South Africa’s seamers. After solely scoring one run of their first 19 balls, West Indies had been anxious to rotate strike so when Kraigg Braithwaite tapped Mulder into the covers, he set off a single. But he did not financial institution on Temba Bavuma’s fast reflexes. South Africa’s captain swooped in from mid-off, pulled off a one-hand pick-up-and-release and hit the stumps on the striker’s finish to search out Tagenarine Chanderpaul in need of his floor.

Chase and Raymon Reifer placed on 23 runs in 25 balls – thanks largely to large gaps within the subject as Bavuma sought to crowd the batters in opposition to the spinners – earlier than Coetzee struck once more. Reifer tried to flick Coetzee previous Tony de Zorzi at brief leg however inside-edged onto his pad and de Zorzi took a superb catch.

Earlier, West Indies seamers made gentle work of the final three South African wickets after they resumed on 311 for 7. They dismissed the remaining batters 16 minutes and 18 balls into the morning session, with South Africa including solely 9 runs to their in a single day rating. All informed South Africa misplaced their final eight wickets for 72 runs.