CAPE TOWN, South Africa (AP) – South Africa offspinner Simon Harmer made a bright start to his Test career as he put a dent in the West Indies batting on day one of the third and final cricket Test at Newlands today.
Harmer was picked ahead of legspinner Imran Tahir and dismissed Devon Smith (47) and Leon Johnson (54) as West Indies went to tea on 172 for four after winning the toss and electing to bat first.
Tahir took three for 108 in the drawn second match in Port Elizabeth, but South Africa turned to Harmer in an effort to explore theirs spin options before assignments in Bangladesh and India this year.
Harmer was introduced in the final half-hour before lunch, and struck in his fourth over when he slid one through Smith’s defences to deny the batsman what would have been a long-awaited half-century.
While Johnson survived a tough spell from Dale Steyn early in his innings and battled on to his second Test fifty, he became Harmer’s second victim when he was trapped lbw.
Harmer also played a role in the dismissal of Marlon Samuels (43), allowing him one run in three overs to induce a rash shot that saw the batsman hit medium-pacer Stiaan van Zyl to cover, giving Van Zyl his first Test wicket.
Steyn took the first wicket of the day and the only one with the new ball, when he had Kraigg Brathwaite caught at gully for 7.
South Africa lead the series 1-0 after winning the first test by an innings and 220 runs.
