West Indies vs South Africa, Day 2: SA all out for 352

Patient South Africa worked their way towards a decent 352 in their first innings against a menacing Windies spin attack of Benn and Shillingford on Day 2 of the First Test at Queen’s Park Oval on Friday. Mark Boucher top scored with an extremely valuable 69 that rescued their team after they were reduced to 238 for 7 at one stage.

Boucher: good knock

Spinners took as many as nine Proteas’ wickets as Suleiman Benn claimed five to peg them back. It was the partnership of Prince and de Villiers and later Boucher and Steyn that pulled South Africa back. Overall, West Indies were pretty impressive in the field, especially Brendan Nash, who was regularly throwing himself around.

Resuming play on 70 for 3, South Africa lost two quick wickets of nightwatchman Paul Harris and Jacques Kallis. It was de Villiers and Prince who played patiently to blunt the attack of Benn and Shillingford, adding 122 for the sixth wicket before both getting out in a space of 25 balls. de Villiers scored 68 in which he was not afraid to use his feet against the spinners, but then was caught by wicketkeeper Ramdin off Benn, and soon after Prince departed too, off the first ball of the only over from Gayle.

Boucher took the responsibility of anchoring the innings and as he has shown time and again throughout his career, stabilised the middle order with some patience and maturity. He found an able ally in Dale Steyn and both thwarted the West Indian attack who were made to work hard to earn their wickets on a dry but turning track. The duo put on 86 runs before Steyn danced down the track and was stumped off Benn for a well compiled 39.

Boucher’s patience finally ended ten minutes to the end of day’s play when he was caught at long-on off Bravo, the only wicket not claimed by a spinner.

A lot will be expected of Paul Harris when the South Africans take on the field against West Indies tomorrow.