17 wickets fall on opening day of second Test

PROVIDENCE, Guyana (CMC):

Bowlers dominated the opening day of the second Test between the West Indies and South Africa as 17 wickets fell, thanks to some enterprising seam bowling from both teams.

When stumps were drawn, the West Indies were in tatters at 97 for seven, replying to South Africa’s first-innings score of 160, still trailing the visitors by 63 runs.

On an uncharacteristic Providence surface, South Africa opted to take first strike after winning the toss, and that decision immediately backfired as the Proteas were reeling at 20 for three in the 11th over.

First, Jayden Seales bowled opener Tony de Zorzi for one, then Shamar Joseph, playing in his first Test on home soil, picked up the wickets of Aiden Markam and captain Temba Bavuma for 14 and nought, respectively.

Tristan Stubbs consolidated and got to 26 with three boundaries, but Jason Holder got in on the act and had Stubbs brilliantly caught in the slips by Kavem Hodge at 57 for four.

Joseph and Seales would then continue the demolition as they tore through the middle and lower order to leave the Proteas at 97 for nine.

It took a record 10th wicket partnership between Dane Piedt and Nandre Burger to rescue the South African innings, as the pair added a valuable 63 runs.

Burger was the last man to fall just before tea, as he went leg before wicket to Gudakesh Motie for 23, which left Piedt unbeaten on 38 with four fours and a six.

Joseph finished with five wickets for 33 runs while Seales ended with three wickets for 45 runs.

For Joseph, the key was to come out and bowl to the team’s plan.

“It’s a great feeling, especially at home. Taking another five-wicket haul is a great feeling for me, and I am proud to have done it in front of my home crowd,” said Joseph.

In reply, the West Indies did not fare better with the bat, as wickets tumbled at regular intervals. Both openers, Mikyle Louis and captain Kraigg Brathwaite, went bowled for nought and three respectively off Wian Mulder and Nandre Nurger with just 21 runs on the board.

Mulder then snared the wickets of Alick Athanaze (1) and Kaven Hodge (4) cheaply to further set back the hosts’ reply.

Keacy Carty showed some defiance with a knock of 26 from 37 balls, which included four fours and a six. He would eventually be the fifth wicket to fall when he was caught by Maharaj off Burger.

Forty-seven for five then became 56 for six, as wicket-keeper Joshua Da Silva fell to Mulder for four.

Jason Holder provided further resistance as his unbeaten 33 from 51 balls inched the home side closer to the 100-run mark.

Motie became the seventh wicket to fall in the innings, as he went leg before wicket to Maharaj for 11 to end the day’s play.

Mulder has so far taken a career-best four for 18 while Burger picked up two for 32.