Rabada rescues Proteas - with the bat
Kagiso Rabada’s career-best score of 40 during an eighth wicket partnership of 70 with Rassie van der Dussen rescued a potentially disastrous day for South Africa as they recovered from 73-7 to post a second innings total of 174 all out leaving the West Indies a victory target of 324 on the third day of the second test against the West Indies at the Daren Sammy Cricket Stadium in Gros Islet, St Lucia, on Sunday.
The hosts finished the day on 15-0 with captain Kraigg Brathwaite on five and fellow opener Kieran Powell unbeaten on nine.
West Indian medium-pacer Kyle Mayers and fast bowler Kemar Roach claimed five wickets between them in the afternoon session to induce a remarkable South African collapse to 63-6 at tea which quickly became 73-7 before Rabada and Van der Dussen played with calm control to post a potentially crucial stand which left the hosts requiring the highest score of the match - 324 - to win and square the series.
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Rabada’s 40 came from only 48 balls with five fours and the six while Van der Dussen’s unbeaten 75 spanned 142 deliveries, also with five fours and a six.
"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."
The morning session was lost to rain and a sodden outfield and Aiden Markram (4) completed a horror test match when play started after an early lunch with consecutive third-ball dismissals edging Roach to second slip after punching the previous delivery for four. He made a duck in the first innings.
Captain Dean Elgar (10) edged the same bowler to the same fielder in the same position in the eighth over before Keegan Petersen (18, 35 balls, 2x4) inside-edged an innocuous Mayers delivery from well outside off stump onto his wicket with the total on 44.
FAINT EDGE
Just eight runs later Kyle Verreynne (6) touched the faintest of edges against the subtle swing of Mayers to ‘keeper Joshua da Silva and worse was to come when in-form Quinton de Kock (0) touched a similarly faint edge from Jason Holder to Da Silva to depart on just his second ball.
Wiaan Mulder also recorded a duck after driving at a Mayers away-swinger and thick-edging to Shai Hope in the slip cordon.
When Keshav Maharaj (6) edged yet another catch to Holder at second slip off Jayden Seales the tourists were 73-7 and leading by 222 with just three wickets in hand. The West Indies rightly sensed a serious chance of an extraordinary, come-from-behind victory.
But Rabada batted with a combination of defensive resilience and attacking flair reaching his career-best with a six against Roach after a handful of impressive cover drives.
Heavy morning rain and a wet outfield forced an early lunch to be taken without a ball bowled in the morning session and conditions remained highly favourable for the seam bowlers with lavish movement off the pitch and equally generous swing in a steamy, humid atmosphere.
Lunch was taken half an hour early and tea was also premature after another untimely rain shower.
WEST INDIES: Kraigg Brathwaite (capt), Kieran Powell, Shai Hope, Kyle Mayers, Jermaine Blackwood, Roston Chase, Joshua Da Silva (wk), Jason Holder, Kemar Roach, Jayden Seales, Shannon Gabriel
SOUTH AFRICA: Dean Elgar (capt), Aiden Markram, Keegan Petersen, Rassie van der Dussen, Kyle Verreynne, Quinton de Kock (wk), Wiaan Mulder, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Anrich Nortje, Lungi Ngidi
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