Alick Athanaze's steadfast performance anchored the West Indies as they secured a draw in the first Test against South Africa at the Queen’s Park Oval in Port of Spain on Sunday, Reuters reported.
Athanaze, who was making his eighth Test appearance, fell just short of a maiden century, scoring 92 runs, but his innings was crucial in ensuring the match ended in a tie.
West Indies faced a challenging target of 298 runs set by South Africa, who declared their second innings before lunch on the final day, hoping to bowl out their opponents and win the opening game of the two-Test series.
Despite their efforts, the West Indies proved resilient, holding firm to draw the match. The game was called off 20 minutes before the scheduled close with the hosts at 201-5 due to rain, leaving six overs unbowled.
On the final day, South Africa resumed at 30-0 with a lead of 154 runs and sought to set a challenging target while ensuring sufficient time to dismiss the Windies.
Tristan Stubbs made a notable contribution with a rapid 68 off 50 balls, showcasing his Twenty20 experience. Tony de Zorzi and Aiden Markram also contributed with 45 and 38 runs, respectively, before South Africa declared at 173-3 just before lunch. The West Indies had collapsed in their first innings, raising concerns of a similar fate when captain Kraigg Brathwaite was dismissed early in the second innings.
However, Athanaze, along with former captain Jason Holder, combined for a crucial 65-run partnership for the fifth wicket. Despite South Africa's attempt to secure a win, the pitch's behavior hindered their efforts. “We tried our best to get a result in our favour.
But the wicket didn’t break up as much as we expected. In the end, it was a good, competitive game of cricket,” said South Africa captain Temba Bavuma. Holder remained unbeaten on 31, alongside Joshua da Silva with two runs, when the game concluded. Maharaj claimed 4-88, bringing his match total to eight wickets.
The second Test will begin on Thursday at the Providence Stadium in Georgetown, Guyana.
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