Verreynne, Seales light up Day 1 as South Africa fight back against W indies
South Africa began the days play on 223-5, with Kyle Verreynne as their last hope in second innings. Before he played on to Jayden Seales for 59, Verreynne was the lynchpin with a career- best performance amid an excellent return of 6-61 by young fast bowler. Fast bowler Seales, 22-year-old, had earlier led the way for his team with an impact ful match return of nine wicket.
By the conclusion of play on Friday, South Africa had established the upper hand after half-centuries from Verreynne and Aiden Markram. The Proteas were 223-5 in their second innings, leading by 239 runs and on course to pull off a remarkable victory.
South Africa had earlier bowled out West Indies for 144 in their first innings to get a slim lead of just 16 runs. Verreynne and fellow all-rounder Wiaan Mulder progressed their sixth-wicket partnership to 84 by Tea, giving the tourists firm control.
As many as 17 wickets fell on the first day itself, propelling a gripping battle from both sides. But day two resumed a more orthodox Test match tempo and an engaging third consecutive days worth of cricket unfolded. Jason Holder’s 54* took West Indies, who began the day at 97 for seven on a chilly morning in Port Elizabeth, to within South Africa”s first inning total. Holder played an important supporting role for the home side with a gritty innings that contained six fours and a six.
Only Shamar Joseph, a local hero who belted out 25 off four boundaries and one six before Keshav Maharaj ended his fun. Even Holder could not forget the importance of this morning following which he just promised to limit South Africa’s advantage as much and was confident in chasing any target put up by Eindehosen.
Markram and Tony de Zorzi got SA off to an aggressive start in their second innings with a first-wicket stand of 79. But West Indies bowlers, led by Seales and Gudakesh Motie hit back as they had South Africa in trouble at 139 for five. Markram was dismissed for 51 by Motie, and the left-arm bowling of Seales provided several chances to help West Indies roll up South Africa’s innings in quick succession.
Mulder was hardly the idea man to be taking up that role, but at least one of them found a stabilising influence in Verreynne as he pushed unconquered on 34. Earlier, Mulder (4-18) rattled the Windies with a blistering spell of fast bowling but his handy batting cameo as night watchman strung together valuable runs to give South Africa over 200 more. Mulder hit back-to-back sixes off the last two overs of the day, one off Motie and another at Kavem Hodge to lift South Africa’s total to 246.