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PROVIDENCE, Guyana: Sharma Joseph took five wickets in his first Test match on home soil, but South Africa fought back in kind as they were bowled out for 17 wickets on the first day of the second and final Test on Thursday. Fast bowler Joseph took five for 33 to lead South Africa to a 160-run win as the South Africans elected to bat first.
West Indies’ Shamar Joseph (second from left), Gudakesh Motie (left) and Kavem Hodge (third from left) celebrate the elimination of South Africa’s David Bedingham
However, bowler Vian Mulder responded with a brilliant 4 for 18 as the Caribbean side finished with 97 for 7. Joseph missed the first Test in Trinidad a week ago due to rain-affected conditions but he returned to form and energy on his Australian debut in January, where he helped West Indies to their first Test victory Down Under in 27 years with a stunning seven-wicket haul on the final day of the second Test in Brisbane. Having looked memorably short of training and match fitness in the two Tests in England last month, the Guyanese bowler made up for it immediately after taking the field as the opening bowler on a muggy morning in South America.
Feeling great
He dismissed opener Adrian Markram almost immediately, while his teammate Jaden Sears (3 for 45) provided excellent support, his steady pace and full length helping the South African greatly in conditions that were unexpectedly favourable for fast bowlers. “It feels great to get a result like this at home,” said the 24-year-old Joseph, reflecting on his third five-Test innings. “I didn’t bowl much in Providence, but I always came with a clear plan to do what the team needed and I’m glad I was able to do that today.”
West Indies’ Shamar Joseph (left) celebrates defeat against South Africa’s Temba Bavuma (right) on the first day of the second Test match
Danny Pitt (38) and Nandre Berg (23) combined to score 63 runs in the final over to take the visitors past the hundred mark. Ironically, these two players were picked for this match mainly because of their bowling ability as batsman Ryan Rickert and fast bowler Lungi Ngidi were dropped from the first Test squad. In a last-gasp resistance, the South African bowlers routed the West Indies top batsmen.
Berg struck first, slicing the wicket of Mikael Luiz, but South Africa were able to fight back when Mulder replaced the unlucky Kagiso Rabada. The medium-pacer continued Joseph’s style earlier in the day, combining a perfect combination of aerial and seam movement to leave the hosts reeling at 56 for 6, beating his previous best of 3 for 1 against the West Indies in St Lucia three years ago.
South Africa’s Kyle Vereen is bowled by West Indies’ Sharma Joseph on day one of the second Test match
“I didn’t play my best today but I had a lot of strengths today,” admitted Mulder, reflecting on his best Test match bowling performance of his career. “I just tried to replicate what Sharma did earlier today, bowling a long ball that made it difficult for batsmen to score. He’s obviously quicker than me but the pitch also lends itself to bowling style so I was able to exploit that.” Jason Holder (33 not out) and Gurdakesh Moti avoided a complete collapse, although Moti’s loss to Keshav Maharaj in the final over of the day put a greater responsibility on former captain Holder to do his best to minimise the deficit in the first innings the next morning.
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