Brathwaite laments WI first innings batting collapse following series loss

PROVIDENCE, Guyana (CMC):

West Indies Test captain Kraigg Brathwaite believes that West Indies missed a perfect opportunity to put pressure on South Africa when they suffered a batting collapse in the first innings of the just-concluded second Test match at Providence Stadium.

After Shamar Joseph’s five-wicket haul helped to rout the visitors for just 160 on the opening day, the West Indies could only manage 144 to concede a first-innings lead of 16.

It proved to be a costly letdown as it allowed South Africa back into the game, which they eventually went on to win by 40 runs inside three days.

The defeat left West Indies without a Test series win against South Africa since 1992.

Brathwaite said despite the 63 last-wicket partnership between Dane Piedt and Nandre Burger that rescued South Africa from 97-9, he still felt the home side was in prime position to press home the advantage.

“Obviously, if you look at it, it was quite big, but to bowl them out for 160, I was still quite happy. Obviously, that partnership for them was good.

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“It’s cricket where partnerships do happen, so I wouldn’t really stress on that too much, but what I would say is that our first-innings total needed to be bigger, and we needed to get a lead from it. That was very important,” Brathwaite said in a post-match press conference on Saturday.

“I could never complain about the bowlers’ efforts to bowl them out for 160, but the batting effort in the first innings just wasn’t big enough. We had to fight back into the game, and in the end, we fell short by 40 runs.

“I must say that the lower order really fought, but in the first innings, we didn’t put up a big enough total after bowling them out for 160. It wasn’t enough for the first innings, but it was good to see the fight from the lower order. We didn’t give up,” he added.

Despite the 1-0 series loss following the drawn first Test, Brathwaite said he was pleased with the performance of his bowlers, which dismissed South Africa three times in four innings.

“I think all of the guys have potential and talent and they just come out and do it. They have a lot of skill, and I think we have a bright future for our fast bowlers in the West Indies,” Brathwaite said.

However, he admitted that the West Indies’ batters needed to be more consistent.

“We scored above 200 in three of the innings, so it’s just for us to aim to do it more consistently, and that’s always the task.

“You always hear about being more consistent, and I think mentally, we have to find ways to be better,” the captain maintained.