South Africa take control after second day

outh Africa have amassed a lead of 239 runs over the West Indies after the second day of the second Test in Georgetown, Guyana on Friday. With three days remaining in the contest, the visitors are primed to push for a victory, which would see them win the two-match series.

Thanks to half centuries from Aiden Markram and Kyle Verreynne, the tourists were 223-5 at the close, looking to build an imposing advantage after two low-scoring first innings.

Resuming on 97-7, the home team were able to add a further 47 on Friday morning. Jason Holder was unbeaten on 54, and West Indies were all out for 144, a 16-run deficit.

Jomell Warrican was out for duck five overs into the day. He was followed by Jayden Seales, also without scoring, after seven overs. The pair faced 23 balls between them.

Shamar Joseph was a far more resolute partner for Holder. Their partnership began at 104-9, and Joseph added 25 off 27 balls, with four fours and a six. Their 40-run collaboration was the second-highest in the home team innings, second only to the 41 put on by Holder and Gudakesh Motie late on the first day.

Holder hit a six to bring up his milestone, his 54 not out coming from 88 balls. He hit six fours and a maximum. His 54* was his 14th half-century in Test cricket, and takes him to 3,073 runs at a 30.12 average.

Per ESPNcricinfo, in eight matches versus South Africa, the 32-year-old Holder owns 299 runs at 27.18. He hammered his second fifty against the Proteas. Meanwhile, in 35 home matches, Holder has compiled 1,853 runs at 39.42 (50s: 9, 100s: 2).

Wiaan Mulder took 4-32 to lead the Proteas bowling attack. Nandre Burger chipped in with 3-49, whilst Keshav Maharaj had 2-8 in 5.4 overs, and Kagiso Rabada 1-40 in 16.

As lively and helpful to quicks as the Providence pitch had been on Day 1, it seemed to do little for the West Indies bowling attack on Day 2. They bent their backs fruitlessly on a relentlessly hot day at Providence

Markram and Tony de Zorzi contrived a 79-run opening stand before de Zorzi fell to Jayden Seales for 39. Seales also did for Tristan Stubbs for 24, and bowled David Bedingham for a duck. He ended as West Indies best bowler, with 3-52.

Sandwiched in between Seales’ first two scalps were two for Motie. The wiley spinner took Markram leg before wicket at 120-2. He added Temba Bavuma for just four, Bavuma going at 134-3, to be followed in the next over by Stubbs.

Following Bedingham’s departure at 136-5, Verreynne and Mulder steadied the innings with an unbeaten 84-run sixth-wicket partnership, the biggest stand of the series. They will resume on Saturday morning with Verreynne on 50 and Mulder 34. (TF)