Du Plessis raises his bat after bringing up his half-century

Image courtesy of: ESPNcricinfo

South Africa batsman Faf du Plessis and captain Hashim Amla both scored half-centuries to ensure that the Proteas stood firm against the West Indies on the second day of the third Test in Cape Town.

However, West Indies batsman Jermaine Blackwood deserves some credit for his knock of 56.

Starting out the day on 276/6, Blackwood and Jason Holder converted their 10-run partnership into a 33-run partnership, during which Blackwood brought up his half-century, before he was given out lbw off the bowling of Dale Steyn.

Blackwood decided to review the decision, but replays showed that the ball was pitching in line and going on to hit the stumps. This led to the third umpire upholding the original decision.

Blackwood’s excellent knock of 56 came off 113 balls and included six boundaries.

Holder went on to score 23 runs before he was caught by Stiaan van Zyl at mid-on off the bowling of Steyn.

Jerome Taylor made 13 runs before he was caught by Steyn at long leg off the bowling of Morne Morkel.

The West Indies were bowled out for 329 when Sulieman Benn was caught by Temba Bavuma at mid-off off the bowling of Morkel.

Steyn was the pick of the bowlers with four wickets, while debutant Simon Harmer snapped up three, Morkel took two and van Zyl chipped in with one.

Trailing by 329, South Africa got off to a solid start before Dean Elgar was given out lbw off the bowling of Holder for eight runs.

Du Plessis and Alviro Petersen made up for the early loss of Elgar with a 56-run partnership before Petersen was run out by Blackwood for 42.

Du Plessis and Amla kept the runs flowing with a 53-run partnership, during which du Plessis brought up his half-century, before he was stumped by West Indies captain Denesh Ramdin off the bowling of Benn.

Du Plessis’ fantastic knock of 68 came off 122 balls and included eight boundaries.

South Africa’s dominance with the bat continued as Amla and AB de Villiers put together an unbeaten 70-run partnership, during which Amla registered his half-century, before the heavens parted.

With the rain refusing to relent, the umpires had no choice but to bring play to an end for the day.

Amla finished on 55 off 130 balls, which included seven boundaries, while de Villiers remained undefeated on 32 off 52 deliveries, which included four boundaries.

Amla hit seven boundaries during his unbeaten knock of 55

Image courtesy of: ESPNcricinfo

Holder and Benn claimed one wicket each.

South Africa ended day two on 227/3 and will continue batting tomorrow at 10:30 local time or 08:30 GMT.