Rain has the most say on day one of Windies-South Africa test

South Africa reached 45-1 after 15 overs before rain stopped play and no further play was possible on the first day of the first test against the West Indies at the Queens Park Oval in Port of Spain, Trinidad, on Wednesday.

Aiden Markram (9) lost his off stump to Jason Holder’s first ball after an opening stand of 43 but opening partner, Tony de Zorzi, made a statement of intent by slog-sweeping and on-driving left arm spinner Gudakesh Motie for a pair of sixes in his first over, the seventh of the innings, to reach 32 not out from 52 balls.

Tristan Stubbs was unbeaten on two when the rain started to fall. Showers have been forecast for the duration of the test match

Play abandoned here in Trinidad after an exciting opening session on Day 1️⃣.#WIvSA | #MenInMaroon pic.twitter.com/GNW3v0c1WT

— Windies Cricket (@windiescricket) August 7, 2024

Markram faced 34 balls for his nine runs and survived a probing opening spell from veteran fast bowler Kemar Roach (5-3-6-0) while left-hander de Zorzi also played and missed against Roach and Jayden Seales before taking advantage of the spinner with the ball turning the ball into his hitting arc.

Captain Temba Bavuma won the toss and chose to bat first on a largely grassless pitch expected to favour the batsmen over the first half of the match before becoming spin-friendly on the final two or three days.

South Africa announced their team 24 hours before the match containing six specialist batsman and just four bowlers, including all rounder Wiaan Mulder and only one specialist spinner in Keshav Maharaj.

The West Indies opted for two specialist spinners, both left arm orthodox, in Motie and Jomel Warrican.

Further rain showers are forecast for the remainder of the Test match.

WEST INDIES: Kraigg Brathwaite (captain), Mikyle Louis, Keacy Carty, Alick Athanaze, Kavem Hodge, Jason Holder, Joshua Da Silva (wkt), Gudakesh Motie, Jayden Seales, Kemar Roach, Jomel Warrican

SOUTH AFRICA: Aidan Markram, Tony de Zorzi, Tristan Stubbs, Temba Bavuma (captain), David Bedingham, Ryan Rickelton, Kyle Verreynne (wkt), Wiaan Mulder, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi.