The Proteas started the second Test against the West Indies in brilliant fashion on Wednesday, but unfortunately saw a few wickets tumble at the end of first day.
Johannesburg — For a few intoxicating moments yesterday South Africa had the West Indies on the run.
Dean Elgar was playing like a man who had the weight of the world’s problems taken off his shoulders, Aiden Markram looked the world-class batter we all knew he would eventually become, and there was a new rising star Tony de Zorzi making it look all so simple in just his second Test.
Elgar was, of course, the first to depart in the morning for arguably his most fluid 42 (54 balls, 7×4) of his Test career, before Markram (96) and De Zorzi (85) left centuries out on the Wanderers turf.
DAY 1⃣ | STUMPS 🚫
Half-centuries by Aiden Markram (96) and Tony de Zorzi (85) got us off to a good start but regular wickets fell in the final session as we end the day on 3⃣1⃣1⃣/7⃣#SAvWI #BePartOfIt pic.twitter.com/gzdB4e1UHM
— Proteas Men (@ProteasMenCSA) March 8, 2023
But there was more to come. With the first day drawing to a close, the home team lost three further wickets in the final 10 overs to keep the door ajar for the West Indies as SA finished on 311/7.
It is another total over 300 that SA can feel they have taken a further step in the redevelopment of this Test team, but at 248/2 they would have hoped for so much more.
SEE ALSO: Proteas put West Indies to the sword in first session
At one stage the run-rate was pushing at five runs to the over before eventually dripping down to 3.5 per over, with West Indies spinner Gudakesh Motie, in particular, getting among the Proteas’ batting line-up.
Motie’s 3/75 has already vindicated the Proteas’ decision to select two specialist spinners as the Wanderers surface has offered precious little to the seam bowlers.
It is a credit, therefore, to Jason Holder for maintaining his discipline on a tough day and the former West Indies skipper fully deserved the scalp of Proteas captain Temba Bavuma, who was adjudged LBW for not playing a shot. Bavuma departed for 28.
SEE ALSO: Bavuma wins toss for Proteas and sends West Indies into the field
Kyle Mayers deserves even greater credit as he found some form of assistance with the second new ball to dismiss Wiaan Mulder (12) and then Simon Harmer (1) with the very last ball of the day to help the West Indies sleep just a little bit better.
