Athanaze, rain deny South Africa in the first drawn Test of 2024
Maharaj, Rabada's heavy workloads could not force a result in a Test where 142 overs were lost across five days
Maharaj, Rabada's heavy workloads could not force a result in a Test where 142 overs were lost across five days
Scorer: Ranjith P | Commentator: @HemantBrar_
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Kraigg Brathwaite: Happy with our batting group. The guys were quite positive. So proud of the batting unit. We believed we could get those runs. It wasn't going to be easy. We need to keep going from strength to strength. The pitch are a bit slower in the Caribbean. For me, it's about adjusting when to go slow and when to accelerate. [On WI batting] It's all about belief and planning and bat as per the plan. Alick showed us that today. Hodge was good in England. Alick, his plan was to sweep and he stuck to it, even though he got out to a sweep.
Temba Bavuma: From our side, we tried out best to get a result in our favour. But the wicket didn't break up as much as we expected. In the end, it was a good, competitive game of cricket. We went in with an extra batter as a cushion. As batters, we will like to be a but more ruthless and convert those fifties into hundreds. We lost time because of the weather. With the bowling resources we had, we tried our best. Keshav and KG, supported by others. A little bit more time and things could have been different.
Keshav Maharaj: I pride myself on playing Test cricket. I always relish a chance to bowl and conditions suited me. I tried to keep repeating the process and keep things simple. [On Athanaze] I think it was just dragging the length. There was a rough outside off. Credit should go to him, he batted really well.
And it's Maharaj.
Who do you think will be the Player of the Match? Maharaj a top contender with eight wickets in the Test.
5.50pm And Bavuma says they have tried enough. Shakes hands with Holder and both teams agree to a draw. It's a draw after 28 successive result Tests. South Africa tried hard to force a result. In the morning, they batted at a brisk pace to set West Indies a target of 298. The rain meant West Indies had to bat out 63 overs. Maharaj had removed Brathwaite in the first over but Athanaze stitched important partnerships, first with Hodge and then with Holder, to keep West Indies safe. It's a pity he was not able to complete his maiden Test hundred, falling eight short of the mark. But thanks to his knock, West Indies were able to eke out a draw.
Short mid-off and short mid-on in place too
Three slips, leg slip and silly mid-off.
Despite the loss, the West Indies captain reckoned there were a lot of positives to draw from the two-Test series
And what is the lowest first-class score to include a double-hundred?
South Africa spinner says he prepares to bowl long Test spells even when playing limited overs contests
Maharaj, Rabada's heavy workloads could not force a result in a Test where 142 overs were lost across five days
Visitors finish with 154-run lead on a truncated but absorbing day