Second Test evenly poised after late strikes by Seales, Motie

PROVIDENCE, Guyana (CMC):

West Indies fast bowler Jayden Seales and spinner Gudakesh Motie struck late blows in the final session to leave the second Test against South African evenly poised at the end of play on day two here at Providence Stadium yesterday.

With the visitors cruising on 120 for one, Seales and Motie snagged four wickets between them for just 19 runs to leave South Africa precariously poised at 139-5 at one point.

However, Kyle Verreynne and Wiaan Mulder came to their side’s rescue with an unbroken sixth-wicket partnership of 84 to rescue the visitors who ended the day on 223-5, an overall lead of 239.

It appeared the Proteas were on their way to a formidable second-innings total after openers Aiden Markram and Tony de Zorzi were mostly unbothered during a partnership of 79.

But Seales made the initial breakthrough when he enticed de Zorzi to play at a ball outside the off stump and was caught behind by wicketkeeper Joshua Da Silva for 39.

Tristan Stubbs joined Markram at the crease and the two carried South Africa to 111 for one at tea, with Markram riding his luck having been dropped by Alick Athanaze at silly mid-off when he was on 42.

Markram completed his half century on resumption by steering Shamar Joseph to point for a single. It was his first away from home since 2021.

Shortly after, Motie got a delivery to straighten and keep low, which trapped Markram in front for 51 to leave South Africa 120 for two.

Skipper Temba Bavuma only made four before he fell to Motie, with a review showing that the ball would have crashed into leg stump, after the on-field decision had been not out.

Without a run added, Stubbs nicked Seales behind where Da Silva took a straightforward catch. And five runs later, David Bedingham was bowled by Seales for a duck after his inside edge crashed into his pads and then the stumps to put West Indies in the ascendancy.

UNBROKEN HALF-CENTURY

However, Verreynne and Mulder halted the slide and brought the match back on level terms with an unbroken half-century partnership.

Apart from a few nervous moments, Verreynne showed poise and patience on his way to notching his second half century in 17 Tests.

He deservedly reached his 50 in the last over of the day by pushing a delivery from Kavem Hodge down to long off for a single.

Verreynne, who is not out on 50, has so far faced 71 balls and hit seven boundaries, while Mulder who blasted the last ball of the day over deep midwicket for a huge six is unbeaten on 34.

Seales ended the day with 3-52, while Motie has so far taken 2-61.

Earlier, it took a last wicket partnership of 40 between Jason Holder, who scored an unbeaten half-century, and last man Shamar Joseph to get West Indies up to their eventual total of 144 in response to South Africa’s first-innings total of 160.

Resuming from their overnight 97-7, Kagiso Rabada struck early in the morning session to remove Jomel Warrican for a duck and Nandre Burger accounted for Jayden Seales, also without scoring, as the home side slipped to 104-9.

Joseph counter attacked in a knock of 25 from 27 balls, inclusive of four boundaries and one six. Holder, who faced 88 balls and struck eight fours and one six, was left stranded when Keshav Maharaj wrapped up the innings by having Joseph leg before wicket.

Mulder was the pick of South Africa’s bowlers with 4-32, Burger took 3-49 and Maharaj 2-8.