South Africa’s Maharaj and Rabada toil in vain as weather plays spoilsport in drawn Test
In a Test match marred by rain and lost overs, South Africa and West Indies had to settle for a draw in Trinidad. Despite South Africa’s valiant efforts on the final day, they were unable to secure a victory, falling just five wickets short. The match saw 142 overs lost due to rain over the course of five days, making it a challenge for either side to muster a result.
Alick Athanaze emerged as the hero for West Indies, scoring a career-best 92 and forming crucial partnerships with his teammates to deny South Africa the win. This drawn Test was the first of its kind in 28 matches worldwide since July last year, showcasing the rarity of such outcomes in the sport.
South Africa faced scrutiny over their team selection, opting for an extra batter at the expense of a fifth frontline-bowling option. This put additional pressure on Keshav Maharaj and Kagiso Rabada, who bowled a significant portion of the overs in both innings. The absence of a second specialist spinner forced Aiden Markram to step up and contribute with his off-spin.
The pitch at Queen’s Park Oval came under the spotlight for its lack of pace and bounce, which contributed to a slow-scoring affair. Both teams struggled to capitalize on the conditions, resulting in a tactical battle with all three results still in play until the end.
On the final day, South Africa showed intent by declaring early and setting West Indies a target to chase. Tony de Zorzi and Aiden Markram got off to a blistering start, scoring quickly and putting the opposition on the back foot. However, the resilient West Indian bowlers managed to pick up crucial wickets and stall South Africa’s progress.
Despite Athanaze’s heroics with the bat, South Africa continued to push for a win, with Maharaj and Rabada leading the charge. Maharaj’s impressive figures of 4-88 kept South Africa in the hunt, but the stubborn West Indian batsmen stood firm to secure the draw.
In the end, with fading light and limited overs remaining, the captains decided to shake hands and call it a draw. Both sides showed determination and skill in a challenging Test match that was ultimately dictated by external factors beyond their control.
