JOHANNESBURG, South Africa (CMC):
A day that started brightly for West Indies ended with their facing long odds to avoid defeat after South Africa captain Temba Bavuma coolly and calmly collected a career-best, second Test 100 to give his side a commanding lead in the second Test yesterday.
The Caribbean side had the South Africans on the ropes when Bavuma came to the crease in the fifth over on the third day at the Wanderers, but the diminutive batsman dominated them with an undefeated 171 to anchor his side to 287 for seven at the close for an overall lead of 356.
Kyle Mayers struck twice in the first half-hour and had South Africa reeling on eight for two when Bavuma arrived with a massive salvage operation needed.
West Indies continued to impose their will, and things got worse for the Proteas when Kemar Roach and left-arm pacer Raymon Reifer struck before lunch and had the hosts wobbling on 69 for four with a lead of only 138.
After the interval, the visitors found wickets hard to come, and Bavuma dictated terms to reach his hundred from 192 balls in the first hour after tea when he drove Alzarri Joseph over cover for the 12th of his 20 fours and almost single-handedly restored the balance of power to his side.
Mayers ended the day with two for 25 from 13 overs, and Joseph bowled his heart out in reprising his role of pace spearhead to claim two for 49 from 14 overs.
West Indies captain Kraigg Brathwaite conceded Bavuma played “good innings” and his side will have to restrict the Proteas first thing on the fourth day (Saturday) and produce a “special” performance with the bat over the last two days of the contest to win.
The Caribbean side trail 0-1 in the two-Test series after South Africa won the first Test that ended two Thursdays ago at Centurion Park in Pretoria by 87 runs.
“He left the ball extremely well,” Brathwaite told reporters about Bavuma after play, “I can’t fault the bowlers to be honest. I thought all the guys put in a big effort, but I think it was very good innings (from Bavuma).”
Mayers got West Indies off to a lively start after South Africa resumed from their overnight total of four without loss, and he got left-handed opener Dean Elgar caught at gully for five with the fourth ball of the day.
The ambidextrous West Indies all-rounder followed up four overs later when he bowled another left-hander, Tony de Zorzi, for one off the inside edge.
Roach got opener Aiden Markram caught behind for 18 on the stroke of the first hour before the South Africans had passed 50, and Reifer got left-hander Ryan Rickleton caught behind for 10 in the final over before lunch to expose brittle South African batting.
After the interval, however, West Indies ran out of ideas when pitch conditions eased considerably and the ball lost its sheen, and Bavuma did not need a second invitation to indulge himself every time that the bowlers strayed off line or length.
The Caribbean side met resistance for close to an hour when Heinrich Klaasen came to the crease after the interval and carried the hosts past 100 in a fifth-wicket stand of 34 with Bavuma, whose 50 came from 107 balls when he whipped Roach through mid-wicket for the sixth boundary.
Joseph got Klaasen for 14 caught by wicketkeeper Joshua Da Silva running almost 30 yards from behind the stumps to square leg with the Proteas on 103 for five and leading by 172.
West Indies’ plans to work themselves into a match-winning position evaporated when Wiaan Mulder joined Bavuma, and they took the sting out of the Caribbean side’s attack with a sixth wicket stand of 103 that put a lead of 300 within reach.