All four of Rabada, Ngidi, Nortje and Maharaj got a wicket each, as West Indies’ top order collapsed
Tea West Indies 56 for 4 (Hope 25*, Maharaj 1-8) trail South Africa 298 (de Kock 96, Mayers 3-28) by 242 runs
South Africa scythed through the West Indies top order to put themselves in front in the St Lucia Test after being dismissed for a shade under 300 on the second morning. Nine wickets have fallen in the day’s play so far, although conditions are not as helpful for swing as they were on the first day. There still remains some seam movement on offer but as was the case in the first Test, West Indies would have their shot selection and temperament to question when they reflect on the way they approached this innings.
Earlier, de Kock fell four short of a second successive century in the series and Rabada scored a 23-ball 21 to get South Africa close to 300. de Kock added 37 runs to his overnight score and shared in 36-run stands for the sixth and seventh wickets to ensure some part of the lower order frustrated West Indies. But his dismissal came in the middle of a collapse of 4 for 23, which was the best period of play for West Indies.
West Indies took the second new ball immediately as play began, half an hour late after a morning shower, and shared it between Seales and Holder. Seales had an lbw shout against Mulder in his second over, which was turned down, and replays showed the ball was missing leg stump, but that was the closest the bowlers got to making a breakthrough.
It was only when Roach was introduced that West Indies got their first wicket. He angled a delivery in towards Mulder, who moved forward to defend and outside-edged to Joshua Da Silva.
Mulder’s dismissal gave West Indies a glimpse of the South African tail and they may have fancied their chances of running through when Roach almost had Maharaj caught behind flashing outside off in the next over and Gabriel beat Maharaj’s inside-edge and almost shaved off stump and then had a confident appeal for lbw against him. Maharaj was hit on the front pad as he pushed at a full delivery and though replays confirmed no bat was involved, ball-tracking showed it was just clipping leg stump and the umpire’s call meant Maharaj could bat on.
Maharaj hung tough as de Kock took the score past 250, rotated strike well and survived another chance – a stumping, when he advanced out of his crease to drive Roston Chase but missed; and so did Da Silva. Maharaj’s time ran out when he tried to drive Holder as the ball moved away from him and he was caught behind, sparking a mini-collapse.
Holder beat Rabada with his next delivery and appealed and reviewed for caught behind but replays revealed no contact between bat and ball, but West Indies did not have to wait too long for another wicket. Mayers, who had removed Dean Elgar late on the first day, got de Kock to slash at a wide delivery and edge to Hope in the gully.
Two overs later, Mayers struck again when Nortje tried to flick him over midwicket but chipped it to Seales, who was perfectly positioned for the chance. Seales had to move to his left and took an excellent diving catch to extend the first session by half an hour.
Rabada made the most of the extra time and drove Gabriel in the air before top-edging him over the slips to prolong the last-wicket pair’s time at the crease. It only lasted until two minutes before the new lunch time when Ngidi lobbed Roach to midwicket.
Firdose Moonda is ESPNcricinfo’s South Africa correspondent