PORT ELIZABETH, South Africa (AP) – Kraigg Brathwaite and Marlon Samuels scored centuries to avoid the follow-on before South Africa rattled through the West Indies on a rain-shortened fourth day of the second cricket Test today.
Brathwaite scored 106 and Samuels made 101 at St George’s Park but a brisk collapse reduced the West Indies to 275 for nine in response to South Africa’s 417 for eight, when rain brought the day to a premature end.
Bad weather had also wiped out the morning session, meaning just 35 overs were bowled in the day, but South Africa’s outside chance of forcing a result in the match remained after they took five wickets for 15 runs in a five-over spell after tea.
Only the first day was not affected by rain, but better weather is forecast for tomorrow, when 98 overs are scheduled to be bowled.
“Things can happen very quickly,” said Morne Morkel, who took four for 69 in 20 overs. “If we can bat quickly and have enough overs to bowl, it’s never nice for a team to have to survive 50 to 60 overs.”
Summarised scores: South Africa 417-8 dec’d in 122 overs (Dean Elgar 121, Faf du Plessis 103; Kenroy Peters 2-69, Shannon Gabriel 2-80). West Indies 275-9 in 79 overs (Kraigg Brathwaite 106, Marlon Samuels 101; Morne Morkel 4-69, Imran Tahir 3-108). South Africa lead by 142 runs.
