Port Elizabeth, South Africa CMC — Kraigg Brathwaite and Marlon Samuels stroked enterprising unbeaten half-centuries to rescue West Indies and lift them to a comfortable position on the third day of the second Test against South Africa here Sunday.
Floundering at 55 for two after losing two quick wickets just before tea, West Indies were revived by Brathwaite’s top score of 65 and Samuels’s 60, to reach 147 for two when bad light ended play at 5:45 pm at St George’s Park.
The pair has so far added 92 for the third wicket, a partnership that proved critical after opener Devon Smith (22) and Leon Johnson fell in successive deliveries to seamer Morne Morkel, in the third over before the tea interval.
However, Brathwaite remained steady, carving out his seventh Test half-century in his 16th match, facing 125 balls and striking eight boundaries.
Samuels, meanwhile, took the attack to the South African bowlers, hitting nine fours in an innings that has required just 92 deliveries.
Their combined efforts left West Indies 270 runs behind on first innings, after South Africa declared on 417 for eight about half-hour after lunch, following a cameo half-century from Dale Steyn that hurt West Indies momentum.
Summarized Scores:
South Africa 1st Innings: 417/8 (122 Overs). Dean Elgar 121, Faf du Plesis 103, Dale Steyn 58, Hashim Amla 33; Kenroy Peters 15-6-44-1, Shannon Gabriel 21-0-80-2, Jerome Taylor 30-7-114-1, Jason Holder 22-7-43-1.
West Indies 1st Innings: 147/2 (44 Overs). Kraigg Brathwaite 65*, Marlon Samuels 60*, Devon Smith 22, Leon Johnson 0; Morne Morkel 8-1-24-2, Vernon Philander 11-2-30-0, Imran Tahir 15-1-52-0, Dale Steyn 9-2-36-0.