Alick Athanaze missed out on his maiden Test century but played the key role in securing West Indies’ draw against South Africa on the final day of the rain-affected first Test of a two-match series at Queen’s Park Oval on Sunday. Set the unlikely victory target of 298 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) guided the hosts of discomfort from 127 for four just after tea to 201 for five at the end of the game.
As in the first innings, Keshav Maharaj posed the biggest threat to the hosts, the left-arm orthodox spinner claiming four for 88 to finish with figures of eight for 164.
Coming to the point with West Indies in trouble at 18 for two just after lunch due to early blows from Maharaj and Kagiso Rabada, Athanaze displayed admirable restraint in an innings lasting over three hours, during which he faced 116 balls and he hit nine out of four.
However, discipline faltered with the end of the game in sight when the 25-year-old left-hander from Dominica, clearly eager to reach the milestone, swept Maharaj to give Ryan Rickelton a comfortable catch in the back square. leg.
“It was just about dragging the length back and trying to exploit the rough ground outside off stump,” said fielder Maharaj while explaining his plan to claim the wicket of Athanaze.
“All the credit has to go to him for the way he played. I just tried to stick to my plans and use different angles in the box.”
Earlier, Tristan Stubbs’ aggressive 50-ball 68 (six fours, two sixes) led the Proteas’ quest for quick runs on a bright, sweltering morning.
‘There’s not enough time’
His maiden Test half-century was supported by openers Tony de Zorzi (45) and Aiden Markram (38) as they scored at almost a run before captain Temba Bavuma declared when Stubbs was bowled by veteran seamer Kemar Roach.
“We expected the wicket to break a little more than it did,” Bavuma said.
“In the end we simply didn’t have enough time, and the elements got in the way of what could have been a really good competitive game of cricket.”
West Indies captain Kraigg Brathwaite, who fell in the first over of the innings, cutting an ambitious lofted throw to cover Maharaj, was not thinking about a draw when he came out to bat with opening partner Mikyle Louis.
“We believed we could have got the runs,” he stated bluntly.
“We knew it wouldn’t be easy, but my message to the boys was to support each other and be fully committed to their plans.”
Given the significant interruptions due to rain – more than two days of play were lost – there is already concern that the second and final Test, scheduled for Thursday at the Guyana National Stadium, will also suffer a similar fate.
It once again raises questions about the wisdom of scheduling international cricket – especially Test matches – in the southern Caribbean at the height of the rainy season.
(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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