Shamar Joseph stars at home, but West Indies batters let it slip

PROVIDENCE: Bowlers dominated the opening day of the second Test between the West Indies and South Africa, as 17 wickets fell, thanks to some enterprising seam bowling from both teams.

When stumps were drawn, the host West Indies were in tatters at 97 for seven, replying to South Africa’s first innings score of 160, still trailing the visitors by 63 runs.

On an uncharacteristic Providence surface, South Africa opted to take the first strike after winning the toss, but that decision immediately backfired, as the Proteas were reeling at 20 for three in the 11th over.

First, Jayden Seales bowled opener Tony de Zorzi for one, then Shamar Joseph, playing in his first Test on home soil, picked up the wickets of Aiden Markam and captain Temba Bavuma for 14 and nought respectively.

Tristan Stubbs consolidated and got to 26 with three boundaries, but Jason Holder got in on the act and had Stubbs brilliantly caught in the slips by Kavem Hodge at 57 for four.

Joseph and Seales would then continue the demolition act, as they tore through the middle and lower order to leave the Proteas in a spot of bother at 97 for nine.

It took a record tenth-wicket partnership between Dane Piedt and Nandre Burger to rescue the South African innings, as the pair added a valuable 63 runs to spruce up the first-innings score.

Burger would be the last man to fall just before tea, as he went lbw to Gudakesh Motie for 23, which left Piedt unbeaten on 38 with four fours and a six.

Joseph finished with five wickets for 33 runs and Seales ended with three wickets for 45 runs.

For Joseph, the key was to come out and bowl to the team’s plan.

“It’s a great feeling, especially at home. Taking another five-wicket haul is a great feeling for me and I am proud to have done it in front of my home crowd,” said Joseph.

In reply, the West Indies did not fare better with the bat, as wickets tumbled at regular intervals. Both openers, Mikyle Louis and captain Kraigg Brathwaite went bowled for a duck and three respectively off Wiaan Mulder and Nandre Nurger with just 21 runs on the board.

Mulder then snared the wickets of Alick Athanaze (one) and Kavem Hodge (four) cheaply to further set back the reply.

Keacy Carty showed some defiance with a knock of 26 from 37 balls which included four fours and a six. He would eventually be the fifth wicket to fall when he was caught by Maharaj off Burger.

Forty-seven for five then became 56 for six, as wicket-keeper Joshua Da Silva fell to Mulder for four. Jason Holder would eventually provide further resistance as his unbeaten 33 from 51 balls inched the home side closer to the 100-run mark.

Motie would eventually become the seventh wicket to fall in the innings, as he went lbw to Maharaj for 11 to end play.

Mulder has so far taken a career-best four wickets for 18 runs and Burger has so far picked up two wickets for 32 runs.

CMC