Alick Athanaze missed out on a maiden Test century but played the key role in ensuring the safety of a draw for the West Indies against South Africa on the final day of the rain-affected first Test
On the last day of the rain-affected first Test of a two-match series at Queen’s Park Oval on Sunday, Alick Athanaze almost missed his first Test century but was instrumental in guaranteeing the West Indies a draw against South Africa. After the Proteas declared their second innings at 173 for three shortly before lunch, Atahanze set an unlikely victory target of 298. With a determined 92 and a fifth-wicket partnership of 65 with Jason Holder (31 not out), the hosts managed to climb from a precarious 127 for four shortly after tea to 201 for five at the end of play.
Similar to the previous innings, Keshav Maharaj posed the most danger to the home team. The left-arm orthodox spinner finished with match stats of eight for 164, capturing four wickets for 88.
After early wickets from Maharaj and Kagiso Rabada had put the West Indies at 18 for two just after lunch. Athanaze came to the crease and played a three-hour performance in which he faced 116 balls and hit nine fours. He showed commendable control.
But as the game was about to conclude, that discipline faltered as the Dominican left-hander, 25, who was obviously eager to reach the milestone, top-edged a sweep off Maharaj, giving Ryan Rickelton a simple catch at backward square-leg.
“My strategy for taking Athanaze’s wicket was to simply drag the length back and try to take advantage of the rough outside his off-stump,” stated player of the match Maharaj.
But he deserves all the praise for the manner he performed. I just made an effort to follow my plans and make use of various crease angles.”
Earlier on this bright and steamy morning, Tristan Stubbs led the Proteas in their chase of fast runs with an aggressive 68 off 50 balls (six fours, two sixes).
‘Not enough time’
Opening batsmen Tony de Zorzi (45) and Aiden Markram (38), who scored at nearly a run-a-ball, helped him to his maiden Test half-century. When experienced seamer Kemar Roach bowled Stubbs, captain Temba Bavuma made the declaration.
“We expected the wicket to break up a little more than it did,” Bavuma stated.
“In the end we just didn’t have enough time, plus the elements got in the way of what could have been a really good competitive game of cricket.”
When he stepped out to bat with opening partner Mikyle Louis, West Indies skipper Kraigg Brathwaite, who fell in the opening over of the innings after hitting an audacious lofted drive to cover off Maharaj, was not considering a draw.
He said plainly, “We thought we could have gotten the runs.”
“We knew it wasn’t going to be easy, but my message to the boys was to back themselves and fully commit to their plans at the crease.”
With over two days of play lost due to major weather delays, there are already worries that the second and final Test, which is set to begin on Thursday at the Guyana National Stadium, may be equally marred by similar circumstances.
It calls into question the logic of holding Test matches and other international cricket matches in the southern Caribbean during the height of the rainy season.
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