Latest update April 8th, 2025 7:13 AM
SA v WI, 3rd Test, Cape Town, 2nd day …Du Plessis marshals steady South Africa
ESPNcricinfo – It was a languid day at Newlands. A decent crowd lolled contentedly under
Faf du Plessis dispatches a pull. (Gallo Images)
blue skies and confidently awaited a position of South African dominance. A dry, cracked surface only occasionally displayed the awkwardness that many anticipate later in the Test. It was the sort of day for Alviro Petersen to get his Test career on track; instead he found his own devils.
It looked as if Faf du Plessis drew Petersen into a misconceived single that caused his downfall, enquiring about a single to Jermaine Blackwood at backward point and agreeing to it with doubts already forming. But it was Petersen, the non-striker, who accepted it and he was still well short of his ground when Blackwood’s graceful throw struck the stumps.
That left Petersen with only limited reward for a disciplined innings: 42 from 85 balls, the only South Africa batsman to fall between lunch and tea. In the Cape Town New Year’s Test two years ago, he made a century against New Zealand. He must have had visions of another one. Instead, he has three fifties in 26 knocks.
Petersen’s most assertive moment had been a straight six against the left-arm spinner Sulieman Benn, who bore much of the West Indies burden in the afternoon, finding occasional turn and see-sawing in slightly stiffly as if springing out of a rocking chair in search of his favourite slippers.
The smoother innings came from Faf du Plessis, who had a half-century secured by tea and, unlike West Indies’ batsmen, seemed disinclined to make that do. With the breeze picking up, South Africa completed an 87-run session, a conscientious commitment to building a position of authority.
Alviro Petersen worked hard for his 42 before being run out. (AFP)
The second morning had gone swimmingly, too. The West Indies tail was efficiently dealt with and Petersen and Dean Elgar made unflustered progress before the loss of Elgar in the final over gave the tourists heart.
It took South Africa slightly less than ten overs to dismiss the last four West Indies wickets as they fell for 329. Dale Steyn, sensing some quick pickings, finished with four wickets as West Indies attempted an enterprising finale to their innings.
Their rush to get the ball in their hands did not pay immediate dividends, but Jason Holder did summon a response with an inducker from around the wicket to gain an lbw decision against Elgar as he aimed through the leg side.
Shannon Gabriel unsettled Petersen several times in the opening overs with the new ball without success, Benn had a fleeting chance to run out Elgar, but South Africa were asserting themselves when Holder made a vital intervention. They need many more to summon a victory in the third Test to tie the series at 1-1.
If six down for 276 overnight can be presented as a job well done, as batsmen remember the labours undergone, six down the following morning with Steyn steaming in with a newish ball, and more cloud over Table Mountain, feels much more vulnerable.
Dale Steyn removed the key wicket of Jermaine Blackwood. (Gallo Images)
West Indies approached the challenge with haste. What runs were to be reaped were to be reaped quickly. From the outset, their innings careered to a finale. They had awoken with an aggression born in part of desperation.
An exploratory over from Simon Harmer was an unexpected prelude, designed for Steyn to switch ends but, that dispensed with, the threat was more physical. Thirty-three were rattled up in 25 balls. Blackwood, 45 not out overnight, secured his half-century but then became the fifth batsman to fall between 42 and 56 when Steyn had him lbw with a fullish delivery. Blackwood reviewed to no avail.
The loss of the last remaining specialist batsman encouraged the belief that things would end quickly. Holder, having got away with a pull against Vernon Philander, took on the more challenging task of pulling Steyn and scythed a catch to mid on.
Morne Morkel, who had bowled well on the opening day without reward, caught the mood: another short ball, an uncontrolled flick of his hips and Jerome Taylor picked out Steyn, moving back at long leg. It all ended with Benn pushing Morkel low to mid off.
Scores: South Africa 227 for 3 (Amla 55*, de Villiers 32*) trail West Indies 329 (Johnson 54, Blackwood 56, Ramdin 53, Steyn 4-78) by 102 runs.
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