WI slump to defeat after Rabada ravages batting

CENTURION, South Africa (CMC):

A memorable day for Kemar Roach, Joshua Da Silva, and Jermaine Blackwood turned bleak when West Indies failed to overcome another supine batting display and destructive pace bowling from Kagiso Rabada, and crashed to an 87-run defeat against South Africa in the first Test yesterday.

Roach ended with five for 47 from 10 overs, and wicketkeeper Da Silva held a record-equalling seven catches, and the Caribbean side dismissed the South Africans for 116 in their second innings about 15 minutes before lunch on the third day of the contest at SuperSport Park, setting the visitors 247 to win.

Blackwood made the top score of 79, but he was the only West Indies batsman that batted with any purpose and to reach 20 before they collapsed to 159 all out about 50 minutes to the close in the face of an impressive spell of six for 50 in 15 overs from Rabada.

Coincidentally, the result was formalised when Roach was leg before wicket to Rabada for 12, giving the Proteas a 1-0 lead in the two-Test series, which concludes with the second Test scheduled to start next Wednesday at the Wanderers in Johannesburg.

On a pitch of variable bounce, where 16 wickets fell for the second day in a row, West Indies captain Kraigg Brathwaite still bemoaned the application of the batsmen on his side to the task and appealled for greater awareness.

“As a batting unit, only batting just over 100 overs (collectively) in both innings, I think that was where we missed out,” Brathwaite said in a post-play TV interview.

“I think the first innings especially, we were obviously going good, and we should have batted at least 90 overs in the first innings and that would have put us in a way better position.”

He added, “As batters, we have to improve. The bowlers got 20 wickets, but we (the batters) just have to come better in the next game ... Between games, there’s not much we can do (technically), but we will have practice sessions, we will have some nets, and we will face some bowlers.

“But I just think that mentally, when you get in, you have got to find ways and know which ball you want to score off and which ball you want to leave.”

The Caribbean side had a hint that it was going to be a struggle after they dismissed South Africa and were forced to face one over before lunch, and Brathwaite was caught behind down the leg-side for a duck off the third ball of the chase from Rabada.

The match was genuinely over inside the first hour after the interval when West Indies slumped to 33 for five.

Left-hander Raymon Reifer batted resolutely in the first innings to hold things together with a half-century, but he drove loosely once too often, and edged Rabada to the keeper for eight in the sixth over after lunch.