West Indies 145 for 4 (Carty 42, Louie 35, Brathwaite 35,Maharaj 3-45) path South Africa 357 (Bavuma 86, De Zorzi 78, Warrican 4-69, Seales 3-67) by 212 runs
West Indies are 212 runs behind on a gradual, dry pitch, and runs proceed to be onerous to return by. South Africa solely added 13 runs to their in a single day rating however managed their highest first innings whole in 9 away Checks since Christchurch 2022 however wanted fast wickets to make it rely. They have been blunted by the West Indies’ line-up and dedicated just a few lapses within the area on a floor unsuited to urgency.
Batting has been laboured to date and the early indicators on the third morning have been that it could turn out to be much more troublesome. The second ball, from Jayden Seales, saved low and Wiaan Mulder was lucky that it didn’t seam again in sufficient to take out off stump.
Nonetheless, South Africa appeared to have a transparent directive to attain shortly and Kagiso Rabada led the cost. He flicked Seales by way of backward sq. leg after which tried a drive however edged broad of second slip in a productive over. His intent didn’t final lengthy. Rabada confronted 5 extra balls earlier than Jomel Warrican discovered the sting and Joshua da Silva did the remaining. Seales completed off when he bowled Lungi Ngidi six balls later to finish South Africa’s innings 20 minutes into the session. They added simply 13 runs to their in a single day rating.
West Indies have been within the area for 117.4 overs and would have had sufficient time to know that batting can be robust particularly towards South Africa’s finest. Kagiso Rabada and Lungi Ngidi shared the brand new ball and had completely different however equally testing questions for the openers. Rabada saved it full, Ngidi was extra again of a size, and West Indies managed solely 23 runs of their first ten overs. Mulder, taking part in because the third seamer, changed Ngidi however when Rabada’s spell ended, South Africa have been compelled to show to spin early.
With their choices restricted to 4 frontline bowlers, South Africa needed to hold Maharaj at one finish – and he saved Brathwaite quiet for a interval during which the West Indian captain scored simply 6 runs off 37 balls from him – and rotate by way of the three seamers and issues grew to become pedestrian. None of them seemed like taking a wicket however an opportunity got here within the area when Carty, on 28, defended a Mulder ball to level and took off a run however had Ryan Rickelton to cope with. Carty turned again and if Rickelton’s throw was correct he would have been caught in need of his floor however the ball went broad and Carty batted on. Three overs later, Carty was on 32 and hit Maharaj aerially to cowl. Tristan Stubbs ran again to take the catch over his shoulder however misjudged and spilled it.
Seven balls into the night, a Maharaj ball ended Carty’s debut innings because it skidded and struck him on the entrance pad. Aiden Markam, working as South Africa’s second spinner, might have had one other 5 overs later when Kavem Hodge, on 3, edged however Kyle Verreynne didn’t react shortly sufficient to carry on. As an alternative, Markram was the fielder when Maharaj struck once more within the subsequent over. Alick Athanaze edged an arm ball to Markam to slide. Markram and Maharaj bowled out many of the remainder of the session, aside from a remaining late burst by Rabada, who couldn’t take away both Hodge or Jason Holder.