HUGE BLOW: West Indies veteran batter suffers bad injury against South Africa
Alick Athanaze fell short of a maiden Test century, but he was instrumental in securing a draw for the West Indies against South Africa on the final day of the rain-soaked first Test of a two-match series at Queen’s Park Oval on Sunday.
Set the unlikely victory target of 298 after the Proteas declared their second innings at 173 for three just before lunch, Atahanze’s determined 92 and a fifth-wicket partnership of 65 with Jason Holder (31 not out) guided the hosts from the discomfort of 127 for four just after tea to 201 for five at the end of play.
As in the first innings, Keshav Maharaj presented the greatest threat to the hosts, the left-arm orthodox spinner claiming four for 88 to finish with match figures of eight for 164.
Coming to the crease with the West Indies in trouble at 18 for two just after lunch due to early strikes by Maharaj and Kagiso Rabada, Athanaze displayed admirable restraint in an innings spanning over three hours during which he faced 116 balls and stroked nine fours.
However, with the end of play approaching, the 25-year-old Dominican left-hander, apparently eager to reach the milestone, top-edged a sweep off Maharaj, giving Ryan Rickelton a comfortable backward square-leg grab.
“It was just about dragging the length back and trying to exploit the rough outside his off-stump,” said player of the match Maharaj, outlining his strategy for taking Athanaze’s wicket.
“He deserves full credit for how he played. I just tried to adhere to my idea and use several angles from the crease.”
Earlier, Tristan Stubbs’ aggressive 68 off 50 balls (six fours and two sixes) sparked the Proteas’ chase of early runs on a hot, sunny morning.
‘Not enough time’
His maiden Test half-century was supported by openers Tony de Zorzi (45) and Aiden Markram (38) in scoring at almost a run-a-ball before captain Temba Bavuma declared when Stubbs was bowled by veteran seamer Kemar Roach.
“We expected the wicket to break up a little more than it did,” Bavuma said.
“In the end we just didn’t have enough time, plus the elements got in the way of what could have been a really good competitive game of cricket.”
West Indies captain Kraigg Brathwaite, who fell in the first over of the innings, slicing an ambitious lofted drive to cover off Maharaj, was not thinking about a draw when he walked out to bat with opening partner Mikyle Louis.
“We believed we could have gotten the runs,” he remarked simply.
“We knew it wasn’t going to be easy, but my message to the boys was to back themselves and fully commit to their plans at the crease.”
Given the huge pauses caused by rain – more than two days of playing time were missed – there is already concern that the second and final Test, due to begin on Thursday at the Guyana National Stadium, would suffer a similar fate.
It again calls into question the idea of scheduling international cricket, particularly Test matches, in the southern Caribbean during the rainy season.
