Athanaze’s heroics deny South Africa victory in weather-hit first Test

Lacking pace and bounce, the Queen's Park Oval pitch slowed the game, with rain delays adding further challenges

PORT OF SPAIN:

South Africa's hopes of securing a victory in the first Test against the West Indies in Trinidad were thwarted as they fell five wickets short, unable to break through the West Indian resistance on the final day at Queen's Park Oval, Port of Spain, Trinidad on Sunday.

The match, which saw 142 overs lost to rain over the five days, ultimately ended in a draw, marking the first drawn Test globally in 28 matches since July last year. West Indies were bowled out for 233 in their first innings (91.5 overs) and finished on 201/5 (56.2 overs) in their second innings. South Africa scored 357 in their first innings (117.4 overs) and declared at 173/3 in their second innings (29 overs).

Despite the weather disruptions, South Africa made a determined effort on the final day, batting aggressively and declaring early to give themselves just over two sessions to bowl out the West Indies. However, Alick Athanaze, playing in only his eighth Test match, proved to be the key obstacle, scoring a career-best 92 and forming crucial partnerships with Kavem Hodge and Jason Holder to save the match for the West Indies.

South Africa's decision to opt for an extra batsman at the expense of a fifth frontline bowler will likely come under scrutiny. This selection left them heavily reliant on two key players: Keshav Maharaj, who bowled an exhausting 66.2 overs, and Kagiso Rabada, who bowled 30 overs out of the 148.1 that the West Indies faced across both innings. In contrast, Lungi Ngidi and Wiaan Mulder contributed a combined 30.5 overs, while Aiden Markram was forced to fill in with 21 overs as a part-time spinner in the absence of a second specialist spinner.

The pitch at Queen's Park Oval also played a significant role in the outcome. It lacked the pace and bounce typically conducive to a more dynamic style of play, likely due to the extensive use of the square for club cricket earlier in the season. This resulted in an attritional battle that required both teams to adapt to slower scoring rates, further complicated by the lost time due to rain.

On the fifth morning, South Africa came out with a clear intent to score quickly and set up a declaration. Tony de Zorzi and Aiden Markram put on 48 runs in the first 10.2 overs, with Markram in particular showcasing an aggressive approach by taking 13 runs off Jayden Seales' third over. The pair's 78-run opening stand provided a solid platform before de Zorzi was dismissed for 45, five runs short of consecutive half-centuries in the match.

Tristan Stubbs, batting at No.3, continued the aggressive approach, reaching his maiden Test fifty off just 42 balls, the second-fastest by a South African on debut. Stubbs and Temba Bavuma took the attack to the West Indies bowlers, with Stubbs notably targeting Jomel Warrican and Kemar Roach. However, Stubbs was eventually bowled by Roach, leading to South Africa's declaration half an hour before lunch.

The South African bowlers were given a brief period to make early inroads before rain interrupted play, but they managed to remove Kraigg Braithwaite and Mikyle Louis before the weather intervened again. When play resumed, Athanaze and Keacy Carty steadied the innings, with Athanaze particularly effective against the short ball. Although South Africa picked up a few more wickets, including Athanaze's just shy of his century, it was too late to force a result.

The match ended in a draw with 6.4 overs remaining, as fading light prompted the captains to shake hands, leaving South Africa to reflect on missed opportunities and the challenges posed by both the weather and their selection choices.