West Indies pacemen strike back after superb Markram century

South Africa – boosted by Aiden Markram’s fine century – were pegged back by a revitalised West Indian pace attack in the final session to eventually reach 314 for eight at the close of the first day of the Betway first test at SuperSport Park in Centurion on Tuesday.

An undisciplined West Indian attack had conceded more than 30 boundaries as South Africa reached 206 for one in 53 overs at tea, a rate of almost four to the over, but then a runout began a collapse in which seven wickets fell for 93 runs.

When Markram – who made a marvellous return to the test team after being left out of the tour to Australia – reached his sixth test century, in partnership with new cap Tony de Zorzi, it looked as if the home team would power their way to a formidable total.

South Africa’s momentum was then disturbed by a silly runout. De Zorzi (28 in 69 balls), having made a convincing start to his test career, turned to run a third after cracking Alzarri Joseph through the covers.

He failed to look at his partner, however, and Markram sent him back. But De Zorzi was too late to recover his ground as wicketkeeper Joshua de Silva palmed Tagenarine Chanderpaul’s throw onto the stumps.

So ended a second-wicket partnership of 80 in 128 balls and South Africa were never again able to recover their equanimity as a reinvigorated Joseph immediately trapped Temba Bavuma leg before second ball, the ball beating him for pace as the new Proteas’ captain played all around a straight one.

Joseph followed that up with the key scalp of Markram, bowled by a blistering yorker for a superb 115 in 174 balls, an innings that included 18 fours, many of them elegant cover-drives and powerful pulls.

Joseph, who bowled with real fire, reaching 150kph at times, finished with 3-60 in 16 overs.

Heinrich Klaasen came out punching, slamming four boundaries in his 22-ball 20 before he attempted a trademark pull of Shannon Gabriel who beat him for pace, the ball lobbing off his splice to Joseph at mid-on.

Senuran Muthusamy came and went, playing no stroke to a delivery from Kemar Roach that would have clipped his leg stump.

Markram returns with a ton. Proper ?????? #SAvWI pic.twitter.com/B9F2Z2xBDs

— naeemah (@NaeemahBenjamin) February 28, 2023

FORTUNATE ELGAR

Keegan Petersen, demoted to five from his normal position of three, showed good powers of stickability though he was struggling for fluency and he eventually fell for 14 off 50 balls, leg before to Mayers.

Kagiso Rabada played one fluent off-drive before edging Jason Holder to slip and Gerald Coetzee had time to drive his first two balls in test cricket for four before the umpires went off for bad light.

The West Indies will have been delighted by their recovery, particularly as they have the second new ball waiting on Wednesday morning, but disappointed by their efforts in the first two sessions.

With Bavuma winning the toss and choosing to bat on a brownish looking pitch, Dean Elgar and Markram faced few problems in putting on 141 for the first wicket in 36 overs.

Admittedly there were some difficult deliveries to negotiate in conditions that offered its favours equally to batters and bowlers.

The former could drive and pull freely while the pace bowlers enjoyed some swing, seam and bounce. But the visitors rarely used the conditions properly, delivering regular boundary balls to keep the scoreboard ticking over merrily.

Elgar was fortunate, however, on 10, when he was dropped by Jermaine Blackwood at third slip – a waist-high chance that he ought to have taken – off the medium-pace of Mayers, but the former skipper battled through his issues with typical obstinacy and he went to his half-century just before the break with his most assured stroke, a superb square cut for four off Joseph.

South Africa accelerated after lunch in a session that produced 107 runs in 25 overs with Elgar the only wicket to fall. The nuggety left-hander, having twice ramped short, rising deliveries from Joseph for boundaries, seemed to have forgotten that a third man had been moved into position for the stroke.

Trying his luck again, Elgar only found Blackwood who made up for his previous drop by leaping high to pull off a fine catch. Elgar struck 11 fours in his 71.

Elgar’s dismissal brought debutant De Zorzi to the crease. The 25-year-old left-hander has been in prolific form in domestic first-class cricket this season, scoring more than 500 runs at an average of more than a hundred, including a triple-century.

Although his first two boundaries were edged through the slips cordon, he played late and with soft hands and he quickly settled down, progressing with a couple of fine cover drives.

Markram and De Zorzi added 80 in 128 balls with increasing security until De Zorzi’s eminently preventable demise. After that the West Indies got a second wind while the Proteas lost momentum.

SOUTH AFRICA: Dean Elgar, Aiden Markram, Tony de Zorzi, Temba Bavuma (capt), Keegan Petersen, Heinrich Klaasen (wk), Senuran Muthusamy, Marco Jansen, Kagiso Rabada, Anrich Nortje, Gerald Coetzee

WEST INDIES: Kraigg Brathwaite (capt), Tagenarine Chanderpaul, Raymon Reifer, Jermaine Blackwood, Kyle Mayers, Roston Chase, Joshua da Silva (wk), Jason Holder, Alzarri Joseph, Kemar Roach, Shannon Gabriel