Keshav Maharaj and Kagiso Rabada Shine on Day 4, Positioning South Africa for a Potential Victory
Thanks to the outstanding efforts of Keshav Maharaj and Kagiso Rabada on the fourth day of the first Test between South Africa and the West Indies at Queen’s Park Oval, the stage is set for an exciting conclusion.
With two days left, South Africa has taken command despite interruptions from the weather, leading by 154 runs.
Match Scorecard
South Africa 30 for 0 (de Zorzi 14*, Markram 9*) and 357 lead West Indies 233 (Carty 42, Holder 36, Maharaj 4-76, Rabada 3-56) by 154 runs.
Weather allowing, a thrilling final day is planned for a Test that appeared destined for a draw, after South Africa took the game by storm on the fourth evening. South Africa built a 124-run lead in the first innings despite only two hours of play on Saturday. They knocked the West Indies out for 233 and then scored 30 runs in five overs to put themselves in a position to challenge for a victory.
This Test has been impacted by rain on every day thus far. Play didn’t seem to be happening today because a yellow-level alert was issued in several portions of the island due to more than 50mm of rain. However, play at Queen’s Park Oval resumed after a six-hour break, and South Africa quickly gained the upper hand. In order to guarantee they would be batting again by the end of the day, they induced a West Indian collapse of 6 for 60 in 16.1 overs.
It’s remarkable enough that this much has transpired considering the total amount of time wasted, especially on the first and fourth days. Despite the limited number of overs—only 15 on day one and 30 on day four—the action was engaging despite being cut short.
South Africa was 13 overs away from the second new ball when play resumed, and they had spin from both ends, thus Aiden Markram had to open the day’s play. Jason Holder was quick to seize the chance to put pressure on the white-ball skipper of South Africa by hitting the opening ball past the covers for four runs.
Holder then struck Markram towards deep midwicket and over mid-off, but Markram emerged victorious in the mini-battle when he crushed Holder’s off stump in his tenth over. After three balls, Joshua da Silva was caught at mid-on by Keshav Maharaj, who took his fourth wicket of the innings.
When David Bedingham was hit by a stupid point shot from Kemar Roach, who was on zero, Maharaj would have had five in his next over. Bedingham’s outstretched right hand barely managed to catch the ball, requiring fast reflexes and a little bit of luck to stick.
As soon as the new ball was made available, South Africa continued to use the spinners. After bowling an eight-over session, Markram was replaced by Kagiso Rabada, who claimed his 292nd Test wicket with the fourth delivery of the match. Bedingham dismissed Kavem Hodge with ease, making no mistakes at first-slip.
Rabada’s discipline kept tearing up the inferior West Indies order. When a full delivery was delivered, Gudakesh Motie closed the bat face too soon and edged to Markram at second slip. Roach was hit on the front pad right below the knee-roll, resulting in a leg before wicket. After reviewing, all he saw on the replay were three reds from ball-tracking.
Maharaj, on the other hand, persisted and only encountered difficulties when Jomel Warrican challenged him. At the beginning of his 38th over, Warrican blasted Maharaj over his head for six; he bowled all 38 in quick succession. Two balls later, he drove Maharaj over long-on for another six.
Jayden Seales demonstrated some strong intent as well, smashing Maharaj for four over midwicket to close his 39th over. Lungi Ngidi, who came in for Rabada and bowled Seales for his first wicket of the game, denied Maharaj the chance to record his ninth Test five-for. Over the course of two days, Maharaj bowled 40 overs in total, all from the Media Center end.
South Africa was eager to score as many runs as they could because further rain was predicted for Sunday. Markram and de Zorzi therefore set out with purpose. They were fast between the wickets and active at the crease. With back-to-back cover drives off Roach’s second over, Markram displayed his class.
De Zorzi hit Seales in the air past point for four in the final over of the day. He reached for a wide ball after two balls and received a thick outside edge. Hodge completed a dismal day for the West Indies when he fumbled the ball at first slip after he hesitated for a split second and managed to get both hands on it.
