Kraigg Brathwaite and Marlon Samuels brought up their centuries before South Africa rattled through the West Indies on a rain-shortened fourth day of the second test at St. George’s Park on Monday. Brathwaite scored 106 and Samuels made 101 but a brisk collapse reduced the West Indies to 275-9 in response to South Africa’s 417-8, before rain brought the day to a premature end.
Bad weather had also wiped out the morning session, meaning just 35 overs were bowled in the day, but South Africa’s outside chance of forcing a result in the match remained after they took five wickets for 15 runs in a five-over spell after tea.
Only the first day was not affected by rain, but better weather is forecast for Tuesday, when 98 overs are scheduled to be bowled. The home side’s hopes appeared to be disappearing during an afternoon of entertaining strokeplay that saw Brathwaite and Samuels extend their partnership for the third wicket to 176 — a record for that wicket for WI against South Africa .
Brathwaite recorded his third test hundred and his first overseas while Samuels reached his sixth century when he hit legspinner Imran Tahir, whom he gave a torrid time throughout the afternoon, to the midwicket boundary. Both batsmen then fell in the space of four deliveries, with Samuels trapped lbw by Vernon Philander and Brathwaite becoming Morne Morkel’s third victim of the innings when he edged to second slip.
Morkel was the only bowler to trouble the pair during the afternoon session, but Tahir roused himself after tea to pick up the wickets of Denesh Ramdin (20) and Shivnarine Chanderpaul (7) in the same over. After Morkel had Jason Holder caught behind for one, Sulieman Benn (4) edged Tahir’s googly to slip and then Kenroy Peters (0) was run out before the rain arrived, leaving Jerome Taylor as the not-out batsman on 10.
Morkel had figures of 4-69 from 20 overs, while Tahir had 3-108 from 26. South Africa leads the series 1-0 after winning the first test by an innings and 220 runs.
Brief Scores
South Africa: 417/8 declared lead West Indies: 275/9 (Kraigg Brathwaite 106, Marlon Samuels 101; Morne Morkel 4/69, Imran Tahir 3/108) by 142 runs.