South Africa 320 and 321 (Bavuma 172, Mayers 3-46) lead West Indies 251 at 390 runs
South Africa’s last three wickets fell for 34 runs in 36 minutes and 46 balls on the fourth morning, leaving the West Indies over five-and-a-half sessions to bat.
Captain Temba Bavuma added just one hit to his overnight tally of 171 before hollowing out to a deep square leg in the morning’s second over. Bavuma left to the applause of a small but growing Saturday audience. Keshav Maharaj went the same way, but not before starting the day with a killer cover drive from Kyle Mayers.
Kagiso Rabada, batting at number 11 and recovering from a back spasm, made the most of his license to thrill. He took the middle of just about every ball he encountered, sending a Mayers legcutter and Holder a short, slower ball over midwicket and long-on for sixes in successive overs. Holder picked up the pace three balls later, cramping Rabada for space, and attempted to give Holder his third wicket.
The West Indies used a total of eight bowlers in South Africa’s second innings and the wickets were split among the seamen. Their specialist spinner Gudakesh Motie didn’t have any success in the second innings, but South Africa counts on the surface and starts to fall apart and take their turn as the game goes on. They included both Maharaj and Simon Harmer in their XI in anticipation of spinner-friendly conditions over the past two days, and they’ll have a big job to do.
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