Tahir sliced through the West Indies’ middle order with relative ease
Image courtesy of: ESPNcricinfo
South Africa spinner Imran Tahir and pace bowler Morne Morkel fought back after West Indies opener Kraigg Brathwaite and all-rounder Marlon Samuels both scored centuries on the fourth day of the second Test in Port Elizabeth.
After heavy rain delayed the start of play, Brathwaite and Samuels converted their 92-run partnership into a 176-run partnership, during which Brathwaite brought up his third Test century and Samuels his sixth, before Samuels was given out lbw off the bowling of Vernon Philander.
Samuels decided to review the decision, but replays showed that the ball was pitching in line and going on to clip leg stump. This led to the third umpire upholding the original decision.
Samuels’ excellent knock of 101 came off 160 balls and included 14 boundaries and a six.
Samuels struck 14 boundaries and a six during his knock of 101
Image courtesy of: ESPNcricinfo
Brathwaite went on to score 106 off 186 deliveries, which included 12 boundaries, before he was caught by Alviro Petersen at second slip off the bowling of Morkel.
Brathwaite celebrates after scoring his third Test century
Image courtesy of: ESPNcricinfo
Following Brathwaite’s dismissal, Tahir ripped through the West Indies’ middle order as he took out captain Denesh Ramdin, Shivnarine Chanderpaul and Sulieman Benn, while Morkel got rid of Jason Holder.
Morkel dismissed Brathwaite and Holder
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Debutant Kenroy Peters failed to trouble the scorers as he was run out by Dale Steyn for a duck.
Just a minute after Peters was dismissed, the heavens parted and the players were ushered off the field.
With the rain refusing to relent, the umpires had no choice but to bring play to an end for the day.
Morkel was the pick of the bowlers with four wickets, while Tahir snapped up three and Philander chipped in with one.
The West Indies ended day four on 275/9 and will continue batting tomorrow at 10:00 local time or 08:00 GMT.