Three days of play between the No. 1 and No. 8 sides in the world and the first innings have barely been completed. The Test match is perhaps most likely to be remembered for the innumerable overs lost due to rain. South Africa, having been put in, ended Day 1 on 270/2, thanks to a Dean Elgar century. Day 2 allowed only six overs of play and then West Indies, on Day 3, struck early blows to reduce South Africa to 347/7 before Dale Steyn blitzed his way to a 28-ball 58. South Africa declared at 417/8 and removed two West Indian batsmen for 55, before Kraigg Brathwaite and Marlon Samuels stitched together an assured partnership to take West Indies to 147/2, 70-shy of avoiding the follow on. Day 3 was perhaps West Indies' best day in Test cricket for a while. Barring the Steyn cameo, their bowlers hit the right lengths and with the Brathwaite-Samuels partnership, they showed, the stomach for a fight. On Day 4, they'll hope to get as close to South African total as possible.
South Africa vs West Indies, 2nd Test - Live Cricket Score, Commentary
It rained overnight in Port Elizabeth. Continued to do so on the fourth morning. The wicket was covered and a persistent slight drizzle meant that proposed 10 am(local time) start was not possible. Play will get underway subject to the rain ceding and a subsequent inspection.
Fifteen minutes before Tea, West Indies, having crossed the follow-on mark of 217, were sitting comfortable at 231/2. In a 20-minute span either side of Tea, they lost 7 wickets for 44 tuns before the rain gods decided to interrupt the game once again. By virtue of that comeback, South Africa, still leading by 142, gave themselves a glimmer of hope to force a result on the final day. That hadn't looked possible in the morning session when Kraigg Brathwaite and Marlon Samuels composed mature centuries to put the visitors virtually safe in the rain-inflicted Test match. Imran Tahir, who bowled a boundary-ball an over, came out rejuvenated after Tea to prize out three wickets. West Indies would be pulling their hair at the way they collapsed after Tea, However, with a little patience and more help from the rain, they can still force a draw. South Africa meanwhile will look to wrap the West Indies innings early and give themselves a good 20-25 overs to build a safe lead before coming back and having another crack at the brittle West Indies batting. Weather permitting, this Test can still end as a classic!
