It was a pretty ordinary day for us - Hope

West Indies batsman Shai Hope battled hard for his 43 from 103 balls but it was another day of disaster for the home side as they were bowled out for just 149 in reply to South Africa’s 298 at the end of the second day's play in the second test at the Daren Sammy Cricket Stadium in Gros Islet, St, Lucia, on Saturday.

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South Africa resumed on 218 for five and were bowled out at lunch, giving the home side reason for optimism. But it wasn’t to be.

“It was a pretty ordinary day for us,” Hope said with considerable understatement. “I must commend our bowlers for the job they did but the batsmen didn’t get the job done. It would have been nice to score more runs but hopefully, we can turn things around tomorrow and get back into the game,” Hope said.

“The South Africans are decent bowlers, we must give them credit. We must come up with a game plan to combat their skills and come out on top. They work well in tandem and they have clear plans against you, as batsmen we just need to be switched on to face them.

“Quinton has been very consistent which you like to see as a batsman, he’s been doing that very well for South Africa,” Hope said.

Wiaan Mulder produced the extraordinary analysis of 4-3-1-3 at the close of the West Indian innings but was quick to give credit to Quinton de Kock for his innings of 96 following his career-best 141* in the first test match: “I don’t know why he is playing so well at the moment, he just seems incredibly happy and he’s obviously in great form,” Mulder said. “It’s a really difficult wicket to bat on, I felt, but not for him.”

“KG has been so consistent for many years and Lungi is looking so fit which is great. Anna (Anrich Nortje) just has raw pace which makes him so dangerous – it was an all-around bowling display,” Mulder said, ignoring his own remarkable display.

“I haven’t felt in good rhythm for a while and it was difficult again today bowling into the wind – I took wickets which was fantastic but I actually just happened to be landing the ball in the right place. The team environment is very special, I am supported whether I’m doing well or doing badly. We just need to make sure we carry on the good work tomorrow and finish the test match properly,” Mulder said.