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The first Test between West Indies and South Africa at Queen’s Park Oval, Port of Spain, was a grueling affair that ultimately ended in a draw. Rain played a significant role throughout the match, interrupting play on multiple occasions and denying fans a conclusive result.
Temba Bavuma and Tony De Zorzi lead the charge
South Africa won the toss and elected to bat first on a pitch that appeared to offer early assistance to the bowlers. The Proteas managed to put up a solid total of 357 all out, with captain Temba Bavuma anchoring the innings with a composed 86 off 182 balls. He was well-supported by Tony de Zorzi, who played a fluent knock of 78 off 145 deliveries. The pair’s partnership was crucial in stabilizing South Africa after the early loss of openers.
The West Indies bowlers put up a commendable fight, with left-arm spinner Jomel Warrican being the standout performer, claiming 4 wickets for 69 runs. Jayden Seales also impressed with the ball, taking 3 for 67, but South Africa’s batsmen managed to take their team to a formidable first-innings score.
Struggle for runs
In reply, the West Indies batting lineup struggled to build any significant partnerships, folding for 233 runs. Keacy Carty top-scored with a cautious 42, while Jason Holder contributed a handy 36 lower down the order. Despite their efforts, the visitors found it difficult to cope with the disciplined South African bowling attack.
Keshav Maharaj led the charge with the ball for the Proteas, taking 4 wickets for 76 runs, effectively stifling the West Indies’ momentum. Kagiso Rabada also played a key role, picking up 3 wickets for 56 runs, ensuring that the West Indies remained under constant pressure.
Also WATCH: WI vs SA – Aiden Markram gives an animated send-off to Jason Holder during Day 4 of the first Test
Aggressive declaration
With a 124-run lead, South Africa came out with positive intent in their second innings. They declared at 173 for 3, giving the West Indies a challenging target of 298 runs to win. Tristan Stubbs showcased his aggressive stroke play with a brisk 68 off just 50 balls, while De Zorzi continued his fine form, contributing a steady 45 from 60 deliveries. The declaration was well-timed, setting up an intriguing final session of the match.
West Indies’ fightback: Alick Athanaze’s defiance
Chasing 298 for victory, the West Indies put up a determined fight, led by a splendid innings from Alick Athanaze, who scored 92 off 116 balls. His efforts gave the visitors a glimmer of hope, but the South African bowlers, particularly Maharaj, kept things tight. Maharaj finished with figures of 4 for 88, ensuring that the West Indies’ chase never gained full momentum.
As the final day drew to a close, the West Indies managed to reach 201 for 5, with the match eventually ending in a draw. The visitors showed resilience in the face of a daunting target, but South Africa’s bowlers did just enough to prevent a result.
Both teams displayed moments of dominance, with South Africa controlling the early proceedings, while the West Indies fought back strongly in the second innings. The match ended in a well-earned draw, with both sides having plenty of positives to take into the next encounter.
