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Weather and Athinaze deny SA victory as first test ends in draw

olympics11 August 2024 22:10
By:Neil Manthorp
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Alick Athinaze scored 92 from 116 balls to help deny South Africa victory on the final day of the first test between the West Indies and South Africa at the Queens Park Oval in Port of Spain, Trinidad, on Sunday.

Set a fourth-innings victory target of 298 in a little over two sessions, the home side slumped to 64-3 before debutant Keacy Carty (31) and Kavem Hodge (29) provided match-saving support to Athinaze.

Keshav Maharaj (4-88) claimed two wickets and Kagiso Rabada (1-38) added another to reduce the West Indies to 119-3 at tea but the worries were gradually and patiently eradicated in the fading evening light.

A brilliant 68 from just 50 balls from Tristan Stubbs and quick runs from openers Tony de Zorzi and Aiden Markram allowed South Africa to declare their second innings on 173-3 half an hour before lunch setting the West Indies a fourth innings target of 298.

The home side had 20 minutes to survive before the break but captain Kraigg Brathwaite perished to the third ball of the innings with a remarkably uncharacteristic shot, charging down the wicket to Keshav Maharaj and slicing a drive high into the covers where Stubbs held the catch.

West Indies were 11-1 at lunch but when Rabada bounced out Mikyle Louis (9), caught by Stubbs at midwicket, and Carty (31) was smartly caught at short mid-off by Wiaan Mulder off Maharaj, the home side were in significant trouble at 64-3.

BRILLIANT STUBBS

Earlier, Stubbs was in glorious form striking six fours and two sixes transferring some of his renown T20 skills into the test format with some booming drives and even a reverse sweep against seamer Kemar Roach for four at the end of his innings which ended when Roach bowled him prompting the declaration with skipper Temba Bavuma unbeaten on 15.

De Zorzi added 45 from 60 balls (4x4) to his fine 78 in the first innings before a leg glance against spinner Jomel Warrican (2-57) finished in the gloves of ‘keeper Joshua de Silva while Markram’s positive innings of 38 from 48 balls (4x4, 1x6) ended with a lofted drive to long off against Warrican which Jason Holder caught inside the boundary.

It was a remarkable change of tempo in the match which saw the tourists amble to a first innings total of 357 at three runs per over and the home side crawl to 233 at under 2.5 runs per over.

The second and final test begins at the Providence Stadium in Georgetown, Guyana, on Thursday 15 August.

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.

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