Home » WI vs SA 1st Test: Alick Athanaze helps West Indies to secure draw against South Africa

WI vs SA 1st Test: Alick Athanaze helps West Indies to secure draw against South Africa

by Cricketbeing
Alick Athanaze

Alick Athanaze emerged as the hero of West Indies as he scored 92 runs and helped West Indies to secure a draw in a rain-marred first Test against South Africa at Queen’s Park Oval in Trinidad. Batting first upon winning the toss, South Africa scored 357 runs in the opening innings, thanks to half-centuries from Tony de Zorzi (78) and captain Temba Bavuma (86). Jomel Warrican emerged as the standout bowler for West Indies in the first innings claiming four wickets for 69 runs. 

Courtesy of a poor batting display, West Indies could score only 233 runs in the second innings. South Africa then declared at 173 for three in the third innings, setting a target of 298. Chasing this total, West Indies struggled from the start of the innings, losing captain Kraigg Brathwaite for a duck on just the third ball. However, Athanaze’s 92, along with a crucial fifth-wicket partnership of 65 runs with Jason Holder (31 of 76), steadied their innings. Notably, by the end of the match, the hosts had recovered to 201 for five from a shaky 127.

Athanaze has shown remarkable resilience in an innings that extended over three hours. He faced 116 balls and struck nine boundaries. The 25-year-old left-hander was in pursuit of a century when he top-edged a sweep off Keshav Maharaj’s delivery to Ryan Rickelton at backward square leg, missing out on the opportunity. Additionally, Maharaj emerged as the standout bowler for the Proteas, picking up four wickets for 88 runs in the final innings. He finished with match figures of eight for 164.

“It was just about dragging the length back and trying to exploit the rough outside his off-stump. Full credit must go to him though for the way he played. I just tried to stick to my plans and utilize different angles from the crease,” Maharaj was quoted as saying by AFP.

“We expected the wicket to break up a little more than it did. 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,” said Bavuma.

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