PORT ELIZABETH – Persistent rain allowed just six overs on the second day of the second Test here yesterday, frustrating South Africa’s bid to take a firmer grip on the game but easing the pressure building on embattled West Indies at St George’s Park.
When play was finally called off at 5:05 p.m. local time, South Africa had reached 289 for three, with captain Hashim Amla unbeaten on 23 and A. B. de Villiers not out on nine.
The adverse weather delayed the start by two hours and when players finally took to the field, play lasted just half-hour before the rain returned.
However, it was enough time for West Indies to claim the wicket of Faf du Plessis but not before the right-hander completed his fourth Test century.
Starting the day on 99 with South Africa on 270 for two, du Plessis clipped the first ball – a wayward full-length delivery from pacer Jerome Taylor – to the square boundary to reach three figures.
The celebrations were short-lived, however. He nicked the very next ball through to wicketkeeper Denesh Ramdin and though initially given not out by umpire Paul Reiffel, was sent on his way following a successful review. He faced 230 balls in just over 5-1/2 hours at the crease, and counted 13 fours and two sixes.
Taylor, and fellow seamer Jason Holder, then troubled both Amla de Villiers in the next few overs, generating movement to hit both batsmen’s edges on a couple of occasions.
Despite this, de Villiers latched onto anything remotely loose, delightfully stroking Holder to the long off boundary and then unfurling a majestic straight drive, when the bowler missed his length in successive overs.
With the stage set for an intriguing contest, the rain returned to have a decisive say in the day’s play.
du Plessis was not a happy camper about the weather intrusion.
“What the rain does is that it just brings the opposition back into the game,” he said afterwards. “It’s very frustrating for us as a team especially after you have had a really good day one with solid batting and we were in a commanding position.”
South Africa now have to rethink their plans on a track that will not offer as much pace and bounce as is traditionally expected in this country, and an outfield which will now be weighed down with water.
“We know that in Port Elizabeth things take a little bit longer and it’s a slower process but now we will have to speed it up. We have to stick to our plans but to do it all quicker.”
South Africa will now approach the Test like they would a first-class four-day match, which could mean settling on a lower first-innings total and being willing to bat a second time.
“In a four-day match, if you get 450 or close to that, you’re in a good position so that will be the difference now. We were looking at a bigger score but we will have to bring that down to make sure we win the game,” du Plessis added.
He expects Hashim Amla to bat this morning because “280 is not enough”, but also to up the run-rate.
“If we bat until lunch time, in a perfect world, we would bowl them out for 200 or 250 and then set them another score in the vicinity of 400 and bowl them out again.” (CMC)
