West Indies collapse but weather holds up South Africa

PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad (CMC):

SOUTH AFRICA ran through the West Indies’ lower order on Saturday’s rain-shortened day to give themselves a slim chance of pushing for victory on Sunday’s final day of the first Test here at the Queen’s Park Oval.

With only two hours of play possible yesterday after the rain prevented any play in the morning session, the visitors bowled out the West Indies for 233 after they resumed on 145-4.

Following an inspection by the umpires, play finally got underway at 3:30 p.m.

Overnight batsmen Jason Holder and Kavem Hodge were disciplined in their approach, with the pair adding 28 to the total when Holder drove down the wrong line of a delivery from off-spinner Aiden Markram and lost his off stump to be out for 36.

His dismissal opened the floodgates as the home side lost their last five wickets for 60 runs.

Joshua Da Silva made just one run before driving Keshav Maharaj straight to Tony de Zorzi at mid-on and, 14 runs later, Hodge, who made 25, edged Kagiso Rabada to first slip where David Bedingham took an easy catch as the West Indies slumped to 188-7.

Gudakesh Motie didn’t trouble the score, becoming the second of Rabada’s three wickets as the home side collapsed to 192-8.

It took an unbeaten cameo of 35 from Jomel Warrican to get the West Indies up to their eventual total, with the tailender blasting three fours and two sixes from just 32 balls.

Maharaj was the pick of South Africa’s bowlers with 4-76, while Rabada took 3-56.

Openers de Zorzi and Markram then wasted little time gathering runs, as they scored at six runs an over as South Africa ended the day on 30 without loss from five overs.