All-rounder Wiaan Mulder claimed four wickets to lead the Proteas fightback on day one of the second Test against the West Indies in Guyana on Thursday.
SEVENTEEN wickets fell on a dramatic day one of the second Test between South Africa and the West Indies in Georgetown, Guyana on Thursday.
With Test cricket returning to Guyana for the first time in 13 years at Providence Stadium, both teams and pundits believed that the conditions would be conducive to spin, and Proteas captain Temba Bavuma duly won the toss and elected to bat first.
But to everyone’s surprise, the surface produced pace, kept low and provided lateral movement off the wicket for the quicks.
Having been bowled out for 160 runs upon winning the toss and opting to bat first, South Africa managed to grab seven wickets in the last session of the day.
🟢🟡Day 1 | STUMPS
What an electrifying first day of cricket!⚡️
🇿🇦South Africa 160/10 (1st Innings)
🏝️West Indies 97/7 (1st Innings)West Indies trail by 63 runs going into day 2.#WozaNawe #BePartOfIt #SAvWI pic.twitter.com/zMujvtbqKI
— Proteas Men (@ProteasMenCSA) August 15, 2024
Wiaan Mulder was the protagonist behind South Africa’s fightback as he returned a sparkling 4/18 in his six overs.
The right-arm seamer bowled Windies captain Kraigg Brathwaite (3) with his second spell of the day, and went on to account for Alick Athanaze (1), Kavem Hodge (4) and Joshua da Silva (4).
Nandré Burger, back in the side after sitting out during the drawn first Test in Trinidad, came back in whites with a bang as he grabbed two early wickets for the visitors.
The left-arm quick set-up opener Mikyle Louis (0) with five deliveries moving away from him, before bringing one back into the right-handed batter to bowl him out and hand South Africa their first scalp of the day.
Burger (2/32) returned and accounted for Keacy Carty (26), who was teeing off with boundaries.
At the close, the Proteas had managed to take seven wickets, leaving the West Indies trailing by 63 runs heading into day two on Friday.
Earlier, the West Indies fast bowlers made full use of the lateral movement on offer, uncharacteristic of the Providence Stadium in Georgetown.
Leading the charge for the hosts, Shamar Joseph, exploited the swing on offer and made light work of the Proteas’ batting order.
A 5️⃣fer on home soil! Absolute bliss for Shamar!🏏🔥#WIvSA #MenInMaroon pic.twitter.com/dONCWEQyKa
— Windies Cricket (@windiescricket) August 15, 2024
Playing at his home ground for the first time in Test cricket, Joseph bowled Aiden Markram (14), Temba Bavuma (0), Kyle Verreyne (21) and Keshav Maharaj (0), and nicked David Bedingham (28) off through to the safe hands of wicket-keeper Joshua da Silva.
Shamar Joseph's 1st Test wicket on homesoil and it's a double wicket maiden!💥🤯#WIvSA | #MenInMaroon pic.twitter.com/Hh6pgfNDZP
— Windies Cricket (@windiescricket) August 15, 2024
Bowling in tandem with Joseph, Jayden Seales also made his presence felt in a day that was dominated by seam.
Seales dismissed Tony de Zorzi (1) with a beauty to give the hosts their first wicket of the day, before going on to account for Mulder and Kagiso Rabada for ducks.
But Dane Piedt (38 not out) and Burger (23) combined for a 63-run partnership – the highest 10th-wicket stand for SA against the West Indies – to add some respectability to the final total.
South Africa 160 all out (Dane Piedt 38*, David Bedingham 28; Shamar Joseph 5/33, Jayden Seales 3/45)
West Indies 97/7 (Jason Holder 33*, Keacy Carty 26; Wiaan Mulder 4/18, Nandré Burger 2/32)
