Cricket update: 3rd Test; South Africa Vs West Indies-2nd day review
The third and final test match of the bilateral test series between hosts, West Indies and South Africa is being played at Kensington Oval Bridgetown, Barbados. The visitors are leading the series by 1-0. West Indies, so far, has lost all of its matches, across all formats. The only relief for Chris Gayle’s side came in the form of a draw of the second test at Warner Park, Basseterre St Kitts.
Once again the hosts performed poorly as the team was bowled out, on the first day, for a total of 231 runs in just 73.5 overs. By the end of the first day, the visitors had played 14 overs of their first innings losing two early wickets at the score of 46. The two men who lost their wicket on the first day were AN Petersen (1 off 6) and Hashim Amla (5 off 24)
At the start of play on day two, Captain Graeme Smith was playing at 35 partnered by the night watchman Paul Harris (2 runs). Harris lost his wicket to Bess at the start of the first session of second day putting some pressure on his side. Jacques Kallis came in at fifth place. The duo had settled well after the early dismissal of Harris followed by four consecutive maidens by Dwayne Bravo.
Gayle’s spinners were tremendous at bowling, extracting turn and bounce, along with good line and length. Benn was superb on second day taking four wickets, including the two crucial wickets of Graeme Smith and Jacques Kallis. By the time Gayle finally handed him the ball, South Africa had got into lead. Probing left-arm spin of Benn had frustrated South African batsmen a lot and finally gave his side a massive boost up with the wickets of Smith and Kallis. In the post-lunch session Smith’s men could get just 58 runs.
De Villiers and Prince kept on playing with patience and determination helping the visitors in getting a significant lead on a track projected to deteriorate. Both the batsmen initially started with a slow and cautious approach against Benn who kept on bowling aggressively with five fielders around. The extra bounce had beaten Prince more than once. But as time passed they got more confident. They smashed the straighter balls through midwicket and square leg while stabbing the field through point and cover. De Villiers smashed Shane Shillingford on mid-off breaking off a 135-ball boundary drought and Prince brought the fifty up for the partnership when he pushed to the point.
The challenge from the West Indies tapered off in the last session of the day, after tea. The spinners dished out long hopes, rapidly being dispatched for boundaries. Bess further aggravated the condition with his out of line and length deliveries with the second new-ball, bowling seven no-balls and providing width. De Villiers' raised his half-century on a missed run-out taking his side into the lead.
However, just as the hosts seemed to be moving out of the game, Benn brought another breakthrough by troubling de Villiers shortly before stumps, notching one straight to Ramdin standing behind the wicket.
While reflecting on the performance of hosts on second day, they will possibly look back at three chances they wasted, enabling the opponents to recuperate. They could have had AB de Villiers sent home twice, at 8 and 42, but made a mistake in judgement going against the review. Later on, when both the batsmen had been well set, Prince's call for a quick single could have resulted in de Villiers’ run-out, but Brendan Nash missed the chance.
The hosts might have grabbed things back to some extent, but they still need to deal with the vigour of the South African lower order to edge the damage already caused.
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