Athanaze greatness leads West Indies to draw South Africa
Alick Athanaze missed a maiden Test century but helped the West Indies draw South Africa on the final day of the rain-affected first Test of a two-match series at Queen’s Park Oval on Sunday. After the Proteas declared their second innings at 173 for three just before lunch, Atahanze’s determined 92 and a fifth-wicket partnership of 65 with Jason Holder (31 not out) helped the hosts go from 127 for four after tea to 201 for five at the end of play.
With four for 88 and eight for 164, left-arm orthodox spinner Keshav Maharaj was the biggest threat to the hosts, as in the first innings. Athanaze showed prudence in a three-hour innings in which he faced 116 balls and hit nine fours with the West Indies 18 for two after lunch after early strikes by Maharaj and Kagiso Rabada. With the end of play approaching, the 25-year-old Dominican left-hander, evidently eager to reach the milestone, top-edged a sweep off Maharaj to give Ryan Rickelton a comfortable catch at backward square-leg.
“It was just about dragging the length back and trying to exploit the rough outside his off-stump,” said player of the match Maharaj. “He deserves credit for his play. I followed my idea and used varied crease angles.” On a hot morning, Tristan Stubbs’ aggressive 68 off 50 balls (six fours, two sixes) spearheaded the Proteas’ chase for quick runs.
Not enough time
At practically a run-a-ball, openers Tony de Zorzi (45) and Aiden Markram (38) helped Stubbs score his first Test half-century before skipper Temba Bavuma declared when experienced seamer Kemar Roach bowled him. “We expected the wicket to break up a little more than it did,” he added. “In the end we just didn’t have enough time, plus the elements got in the way of what could have been a really good competitive game of cricket.” West Indies skipper Kraigg Brathwaite, who fell in the first over after slicing an audacious lofted drive to cover off Maharaj, did not consider a draw as he came out to bat alongside Mikyle Louis.
“We believed we could have gotten runs,” he said. “We knew it wasn’t going to be easy, but my message to the boys was to back themselves and fully commit to their plans at the crease.” Rain interrupted more than two days of play, so there is danger the second and final Test, set for the Guyana National Stadium from Thursday, would suffer a same fate. It again calls into question the idea of scheduling international cricket, especially Test matches, in the southern Caribbean during the rainy season.
