WI vs SA 2024, Second Test, Day 2 Review: Aiden Markram, Kyle Verreyyne fifties help South Africa build healthy lead

Kyle Verreyyne and Mulder(Twitter)

The hosts started off from Day 1 at 97/7 after Gudakesh Motie was trapped plumb in front by the Player of the Match of the first game, Keshav Maharaj. They would have been hoping to add as many to their total to trim down the deficit, or better still, gain an upper hand by securing a lead.

However, Jommel Worrican and Jayden Seales departed for 16 and 7-ball ducks, respectively, to leave it all to do with Shamar Joseph being the last man in, joining Jason Holder. Neither of them backed down in terms of scoring whenever there were runs for the taking. In fact, at one point, they looked so settled that the Proteas had to put in defensive fields for the batters, just to regulate the flow of runs.

Holder brought up his half-century by tucking a full delivery on the pads to deep backward square leg, but it was what happened an over prior to that which brought the docile crowd at the Providence Stadium to life. The West Indian innings didn’t go on for long though, as Joseph was caught in front of his stumps in yet another LBW snaffled by Maharaj.

Also Read: WI vs SA 2024, Second Test, Day 1 Review: South Africa comeback after subpar start

Unlike the first innings, the Proteas got off to a much better start in their second essay. A barren patch for Tony de Zorzi where he could only manage three in his last 34 deliveries after scoring 36 off 38 brought Jaydon Seales a well-deserved breakthrough. Aiden Markram was dismissed by Gudakesh Motie just after he reached his fifty.

It was the stretch between overs 45 to 48 which triggered a sudden collapse, as South Africa slumped from 134/2 to 139/5 in no time. In what was seeming like another disintegration on the cards, it was the stand between Kyle Verreynne and the pick of the bowlers from the first innings, Wiaan Mulder, which reassured the visitors.

The last four overs of the day ended with 26 runs coming into the visitors’ kitty, as the match hangs in the balance with all to play for, both sides as more action is guaranteed as the Test moves to the “moving day”, i.e. Day 3. South Africa ended the day at 223/5. Seales was the pick of the bowlers, scalping three crucial wickets.