The Proteas are in the pound seats after day four of the 1st Test against the West Indies being played in Trinidad & Tobago. It was another day with rain interruptions in Port of Spain, but South Africa managed to hold a 154-run lead at stumps, and still with ten wickets in hand.

In reply to South Africa’s first innings of 357 runs, the Windies were bowled out for 233 runs thanks to outstanding bowling displays by the spinner Keshav Maharaj and the seamer Kagiso Rabada. Maharaj was the pick of the South African bowlers with 4/76 in 40 overs, while Rababa in turn took 3/56 in 18 overs.

Keacy Carty top-scored for the home side with 42 runs, while the allrounder Jason Holder scored 36, and Jomel Warrican contributed with 35. South Africa was on 30/0 at the close of play with Tony de Zorzi on 14* and Aiden Markram was on 9*.

Aiden Markram. Photo: Cricinfo

Rabada said the spinners in Maharaj and Aidan Markram set it up nicely and it was all about finishing the job. “When we’re bowling at the tail it’s an opportunity, especially with the new ball,” said Rabada who is six wickets away from reaching 300 Test scalps.

“That’s exactly what we did. Keshav and Aiden broke it open this morning – they did a great job as our spinners.”

Rabada added that a lot of the hard work has been done throughout the Test and it’s now a matter of going for the kill on Sunday.

“You just have to bowl it in the right areas, and you’ve seen that the West Indies seamers have been rewarded as well. For us, it was a bit of a toil yesterday, and this afternoon we reaped the rewards. I don’t think it was the easiest wicket to score on, but at the moment we’re going nicely.

“Hopefully we post a total that can be out of reach for the West Indies tomorrow, and hopefully we can get the ten wickets.” Play in Trinidad & Tobago is set to resume at 15:30 on Sunday.

OFM Sport/Morgan Piek dg/mvh