Athanaze, rain help Windies draw 1st Test vs South Africa

West Indies and South Africa played to a draw on the final day of the opening Test match at Queen’s Park Oval in Port of Spain on August 11.

Dominican batsman Alick Athanaze was the glue that held the maroon together on day five as his stellar knock of 92 was instrumental in thwarting the South Africans who were in search of victory.

Athanaze (92) fell agonisingly short of his maiden century as West Indies closed off another rain-affected day on 201/5, 97 runs short of the target.

South Africa were in control for the majority of the match after posting 357 in their first innings, to which West Indies responded with 233, trailing by 124 runs.

The Proteas returned to the crease on day four and completed their second innings on day five, declaring on 173/3 – setting West Indies 298 for victory in just over two sessions of play.

Athanaze steered three partnerships — with Keacy Carty, Kavem Hodge and Jason Holder — to guide the maroon to safety.

Earlier, left-arm spinner Jomel Warrican took two wickets as South Africa, resuming on 30/0, went in search of quick runs to force a result.

With just over 70 overs of play remaining, Windies had a horror start to their chase as skipper Kraigg Brathwaite was caught by Stubbs off left-arm spinner Keshav Maharaj without scoring.

Soon after, the heavens opened and opener Mikyle Louis (eight not out) and Carty (three not out) retreated to the stands with the score on ten for one. Umpires called an early lunch break as rain soaked the outfield.

After a 90 minute-delay, play resumed with West Indies needing 287 to win from 63 overs.

At the resumption, Maharaj and pacer Kagiso Rabada bowled tight spells. Carty swept behind square leg to grab a rare boundary off Maharaj but the South African bowling pair kept the pressure on.

Rabada was soon rewarded as his short ball forced Louis to loft the ball into Stubbs’ safe hands, and carried the hosts to 18/2.

Athanaze met Carty in the middle and the pair did well to build a 46-run partnership. Both batsmen struck Rabada for boundaries in the tenth over.

Right-arm pacer Lungi Ngidi was introduced to the attack and was hit for back-to-back fours through extra cover courtesy Carty. This brought up the 50 for West Indies.

As things seemed to be going in favour of the hosts, Maharaj struck as Carty lifted his shot to Wiaan Mulder in the covers. This wicket pushed West Indies to 64/3.

Kavem Hodge joined Athanaze and the pair batted with smart aggression for a 63-run partnership, which brought glimmers of hope to a sparse Oval.

A boundary from Athanaze off Aiden Markram brought up the 100 for West Indies as he swept the spinner behind square leg. Boundaries were few and far between but both batsmen kept the scoreboard ticking.

In the 30th over, Athanaze achieved his half century — the first from any West Indian in the match. After 30 overs, Windies were 116/3 still needing 182 to win.

Maharaj broke the stand as Hodge edged to wicketkeeper Kyle Verreynne in the 33rd.

At 127/4, Jason Holder entered the chase and survived an early scare as South Africa called for a review for caught behind, but the Bajan all-rounder was safe.

He eventually settled and both batsmen showed positive intent.

Athanaze showed his confidence strutting down the pitch to drive Maharaj through cover for four and then swept him for another, two balls later.

Holder got in on the action as he launched Maharaj for a drive over cover. The Proteas shuffled their bowling attack but the maroon pair quickly adjusted even though it slowed their progress a bit.

The next ten overs saw West Indies score just 34 runs to carry them to 184/4 from 50 overs, with a draw the main objective.

With Athanaze’s eyes set on his century, he fell eight runs shy as he top-edged a sweep off Maharaj to Ryan Rickelton at backward square leg.

Joshua Da Silva joined Holder and carried the Windies to 205, before the umpires called the game off.

Brathwaite said he was “happy” with the batting group and their “positive” reaction in the middle.

“We set about just before lunch and the guys were positive in terms of what we can do. We believed we could get the runs. We knew it wouldn’t be an easy chase.

"My thing for the boys was to be positive; whatever you game plan was – fully back it. It was good to see how Alick went about his innings. It was great and fully committed to his plan. We were up for the challenge today.”

The second Test bowls off at Providence Stadium in Guyana from August 15.

SCOREBOARD

WI vs South Africa

South Africa 1st Innings 357

Windies 1st Innings 233

South Africa 2nd Innings

(overnight 30 without loss)

T de Zorzi c Da Silva b Warrican*45

A Markram c Holder b Warrican*38

T Stubbs b Roach*68

T Bavuma not out*15

EXTRAS: (b4, lb2, nb1)*7

TOTAL: (three wickets, 29 overs)* 173 declared

Did not bat: D Bedingham, R Rickelton, K Verreynne, W Mulder, K Maharaj, K Rabada, L Ngidi.

Fall of wickets: 78, 113, 173.

Bowling: Roach 6-0-39-1, Warrican 9-0-57-2, Seales 7-0-44-0, Holder 5-0-14-0, Motie 2-0-13-0.

Windies 2nd Innings

K Brathwaite c Stubbs b Maharaj*0

M Louis c Stubbs b Rabada*9

K Carty c Mulder b Maharaj*31

A Athanaze c Rickelton b Maharaj*92

K Hodge c Verreynne b Maharaj*29

J Holder not out*31

J Da Silva not out*2

EXTRAS: (B6, NB1)*7

TOTAL: (five wickets; 50 overs)*201

Did not bat: G Motie, K Roach, J Seales, J Warrican,

Fall of wickets: 0, 18, 64, 127, 192

Bowling: Maharaj 26.2-2-88-4, Rabada 12-4-38-1, Ngidi 5-0-25-0, Markram 8-1-26-0, Mulder 5-0-18-0

Position: Match drawn.

Player-of-the-Match: Keshav Maharaj (South Africa).