Van der Dussen and Rabada put SA in charge

GROS-ISLET, Saint Lucia: Rassie van der Dussen’s unbeaten 75 and support from Kagiso Rabada saved South Africa from a complete second innings collapse as they recovered from 73 for seven to eventually be dismissed for 174 on the rain-shortened third day of the second Test against the West Indies in St Lucia on Sunday.

That left the home side with a daunting victory target of 324 to level the series after they were thrashed by an innings and 63 runs in the first Test at the same Daren Sammy Stadium venue a week earlier.

Captain Kraigg Brathwaite and opening partner Kieran Powell negotiated six overs to the close of play with the Caribbean side set to resume on the fourth day at 15 without loss. There has been no successful run-chase in Test matches at this venue since the first was played in 2003 and the highest fourth-innings total so far is 252 by the West Indies in a losing effort against England in 2019.

“They bowled really well and credit to them,” said van der Dussen in recognising the challenge facing his team when he was at the crease. “We like where we are at the moment and even though we were in trouble batting in the second innings, we are on the front foot in this game and there was really no reason to panic.”

Seeking to build on a healthy first innings lead of 149 at the start of the day, the Proteas were first thwarted by heavy rain which resulted in the entire morning session’s play being lost. When play did get underway, they lost early wickets to Kemar Roach before Kyle Mayers’ comparatively gentle seamers and swingers once again proved to be their undoing. Roach prised out Aiden Markram in the first over of the innings.

West Indies won toss

South Africa 1st Innings 298 all out

West Indies 1st Innings 149 all out

South Africa 2nd Innings

A. Markram c Holder b Roach 4

D. Elgar c Holder b Roach 10

K. Petersen b Mayers 18

R. van der Dussen not out 75

K. Verreynne c da Silva b Mayers 6

Q. de Kock c da Silva b Holder 0

W. Mulder c Hope b Mayers 0

K. Maharaj c Holder b Seales 6

K. Rabada c sub (Bravo) b Roach 40

A. Nortje c da Silva b Roach 3

L. Ngidi st da Silva b Brathwaite 6

Extras (b1, lb1, w4) 6

Total (53 overs, all out) 174

Fall of wickets: 1-4 (Markram), 2-33 (Elgar), 3-44 (Petersen), 4-52 (Verreynne), 5-53 (de Kock), 6-54 (Mulder), 7-73 (Maharaj), 8-143 (Rabada), 9-152 (Nortje), 10-174 (Ngidi)

Bowling: Roach 13-1-52-4 (1w), Gabriel 6-0-28-0 (1w), Seales 11-3-34-1 (1w), Mayers 9-2-24-3, Holder 11-2-24-1, Brathwaite 3-0-10-1

Umpires: Joel Wilson (WIS), Gregory Brathwaite (WIS)