Athanaze, rain keep South Africa at bay in the first drawn Test of 2024 – T20 IPL 2024

South Africa 357 (Bavuma 86, De Zorzi 78, Warrican 4-69, Seales 3-67) and 173 for 3 dec (Stubbs 68, de Zorzi 45, Warrican 2-57) drew with West Indies 233 (Carty 42, Holder 36, Maharaj 4-76, Rabada 3-56) and 201 for 5 (Athanaze 92, Holder 31*, Carty 31, Maharaj 4-88)

South Africa ran out of time, ideas and most importantly bowlers as they fell five wickets short of winning the first Test against West Indies in Trinidad. With 142 overs lost to rain over the five days, South Africa made a fist of the final day when they batted quickly, declared early and gave themselves a little over two sessions to bowl West Indies out. But, Alick Athanaze, playing in his eighth Test match, scored a career-best 92 and shared in half-century stands with Kavem Hodge and Jason Holder to deny South Africa and save the match. This was the first drawn Test worldwide in 28 matches, since July last year.

Weather aside, questions will be asked of South Africa’s selection after they chose an extra batter at the expense of a fifth frontline-bowling option and were forced to rely heavily on two players. Keshav Maharaj bowled 66.2 overs and Kagiso Rabada 30 out of the 148.1 West Indies faced across both innings, while Lungi Ngidi and Wiaan Mulder contributed 30.5. In the absence of a second specialist spinner, Aiden Markram delivered 21 overs.

There may also be some scrutiny on the Queen’s Park Oval pitch. It lacked pace and bounce and did not facilitate a free-flow of runs, apparently because the square has already been used extensively for club cricket this season. Whatever the reason, it made for an attritional style of play, emphasised by the amount of time lost and both teams did well to turn most of the final day into a cat-and-mouse battle with all three results possible.

South Africa came out with clear intent on the fifth morning: to get runs and get them quickly. Tony de Zorzi and Aiden Markram scored 48 in the first 10.2 overs and the 13 they took off Jayden Seales’ third over best illustrated their approach. De Zorzi appeared to defend the first ball but somehow timed it well enough to get through mid-off and almost to the boundary and the pair ran three. Then Markram smashed a Seales short ball through midwicket and drove a full one aerially over mid-on for two fours. Timing, power and finesse all went into their 78-run opening stand.

When Jomel Warrican was introduced in the 16th over, de Zorzi tried to be innovative and paddle him away fine but gloved a leg-stump delivery to Joshua da Silva to end his 60-ball stay. He fell five runs short of scoring successive half-centuries in this Test and has put a peg in the ground as an enterprising opening option.

Tristan Stubbs was in at No.3 and edged the fourth ball he faced past the only slip to frustrate Holder but calmed his nerves with a sweep off Warrican in the next over. The sweep shot was profitable for him and Warrican was a clear target. Markram hit him for six over long-on once but when he tried it a second time, he did not get enough behind the shot and was caught on the boundary by Holder.

More to follow

Firdose Moonda is ESPNcricinfo’s correspondent for South Africa and women’s cricket

Source: ESPN Crickinfo

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