Holder Leads WI Fightback, Holds Off Rabada And Co. With Lower-Order Surge On Day 2
SA players celebrate a wicket on Day 2 (Twitter)
Three overs were all it took for the West Indies to skittle out the remaining South African batters on Day 2 morning. Resuming at 311-7, the hosts added just nine more runs to their overnight score, with Aiden Markram’s 96 and Tony de Zorzi’s 85 from Day 1 serving as the prime contributors of the innings.
The South African speed force struck early in response, before star all-rounder Jason Holder fought back by providing crucial lower-order resistance for the visitors.
Jason Holder negates Rabada threat to narrow South African lead
West Indies opener and captain Kraigg Brathwaite scored a cautious 17 before becoming the first of Kagiso Rabada’s two victims of the day. His opening partner Tagenarine Chanderpaul also failed to get going as he registered his third listless score in succession this two-match Test series.
All-rounders Roston Chase and Kyle Mayers contributed with identical 20s in the middle-order and stretched the West Indies’ score past the 100-run mark.
South Africa’s young fast bowler Gerald Coetzee struck thrice in his industrious 14-over spell while spinners Keshav Maharaj and Simon Harmer shared three wickets between them. Wiaan Mulder also snared one by castling a well-settled Chase as the hosts had the West Indies floored at 193-9.
Looking all set to concede a huge first innings lead, the visitors’ all-round veteran Jason Holder launched a counter-attacking assault with number 11 Gudakesh Motie. The duo shared a rapid 58-run stand, with Holder himself taking his score to 81* and keeping down the first innings deficit to 69.
South African openers Dean Elgar and Aiden Markram safely negotiated the three overs they faced late in the day to extend their lead to 73 runs.
Brief scores:
South Africa: 320 (92.2)
Aiden Markram 96 (139), Tony de Zorzi 85 (155)
Kyle Mayers 3-32, Alzarri Joseph 3-60
West Indies: 251 (79.3)
Jason Holder 81* (117), Kyle Mayers 29 (83)
Gerald Coetzee 3-41, Kagiso Rabada 2-19
South Africa: 4-0 (3)
Dean Elgar 3* (9), Aiden Markram 1* (9)
South Africa lead by 73 runs
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