The second and final Test between West Indies and South Africa in Guyana got off to a thrilling start on Thursday, with both teams showcasing their bowling prowess on a lively pitch.
Shamar Joseph spearheaded the West Indies bowling attack, claiming a magnificent five-wicket haul as South Africa were bowled out for a paltry 160 runs. Joseph’s incisive pace and movement proved too much for the South African batters, leaving them struggling to cope.
However, the joy of the West Indies bowlers was short-lived as they found themselves in trouble at 97 for seven in their reply. Wiaan Mulder, making his mark in the Test arena, ripped through the West Indies top order, claiming career-best figures of 4-18. Mulder’s accurate line and length, coupled with his ability to extract bounce, were evident as he dismissed captain Kraigg Brathwaite (3) and pulled off a brilliant one-handed caught and bowled to remove Alick Athanaze (1).
“The ball stayed quite low, so it was about trying to hit the stumps. I did not bowl at my best, but it went for me today,” Mulder remarked. “Shamar bowled really well and made it tough for batters to score and I tried to replicate that.”
The West Indies were in desperate straits at 56-6, but Jason Holder, with his gritty determination, launched a counter-attack. He stitched together a valuable 41-run partnership for the seventh wicket with Gudakesh Motie (11), providing some much-needed respite for the home side.
Despite Holder’s efforts, the pitch began to turn as the day wore on. Spinner Keshav Maharaj claimed the final wicket of the day, trapping Motie leg before wicket, leaving the West Indies with a challenging task ahead.
The first Test in Port of Spain had been heavily impacted by rain, ending in a draw. With the second Test now poised for an exciting finish, the stage is set for a thrilling battle between bat and ball as the West Indies fight back against a determined South African bowling attack.
