Alviro Petersen was dismissed for 42 as South Africa went to tea at 135-2, reports Jon Cardinelli at Newlands.
Petersen came into this game a man under pressure. Before his most recent knock at Newlands, he had not scored a 50 in nine innings, or a century in 25.
In the period before lunch, the South African opener took the fight to the West Indies attack. He was more circumspect after the break, but looked to be on course for a 50.
That was, however, until Faf du Plessis pushed the ball behind square, and Petersen called for a run. Jermaine Blackwood reacted quickly in the field, and hit the stumps with Petersen short of his ground. It was a costly mistake on Petersen’s part, and one that could mean the end of his Test career.
Petersen and Du Plessis put on 56 runs for the second wicket before the former was run out. Apart from losing that one wicket, South Africa dominated the second session.
The West Indies may come to rue a missed chance at the start of the session. Jason Holder produced a beautiful delivery that found the edge of Du Plessis’s bat. Unfortunately for the West Indies, the ball flew between first and second slip, and Du Plessis got off the mark. That miss has already cost the tourists 51 runs.
While the track has been good for batting throughout the contest, the overcast conditions this morning provided some assistance for the bowlers. The tourists resumed their first innings at 276-6, and proceeded to surpass 300 in quick time. That cavalier attitude would ensure that the innings ended sooner rather than later.
Dale Steyn added to his overnight tally with two quick wickets, while Morné Morkel finally got some reward with two scalps of his own. Ultimately, it took South Africa just 49 minutes and 9.5 overs to claim the West Indies’ last four wickets.
Jermaine Blackwood played well for his half century, but was out shortly after reaching the milestone. Devon Smith (47), Leon Johnson (54), Marlon Samuels (43), Denesh Ramdin (53), and Blackwood (56) all failed to build on their respective starts, and so the West Indies finished with a modest rather than formidable total of 329. That said, credit should go to the South African bowlers, Steyn, Morkel, and debutant Simon Harmer in particular, for sticking to the task.
TEA SCORECARD
West Indies 1st innings – 329 (Jermaine Blackwood 56, Leon Johnson 54, Dale Steyn 4-78, Simon Harmer 3-71)
South Africa 1st innings – 135-2 (Faf du Plessis 51 not out, Alviro Petersen 42, Jason Holder 1-27)
South Africa trail by 194 runs
