CAPE TOWN: Faf du Plessis hit a solid half-century as South Africa made steady progress on the second day of the third and final Test against the West Indies at Newlands on Saturday.

South Africa were 135 for two at tea in reply to the West Indian first innings total of 329. Du Plessis was unbeaten on 51.

The hosts suffered a setback when Dean Elgar was leg before wicket to Jason Holder for eight in the last over before lunch.

But Du Plessis and Alviro Petersen put on 56 for the second wicket before opening batsman Petersen was run out by a direct hit from Jermaine Blackwood at point for 42.

It was a cruel blow for Petersen, whose place is under threat after a string of modest scores.

Fast bowlers Dale Steyn and Morne Morkel took two wickets each as South Africa wrapped iup the West Indian first innings inside the first hour.

Resuming at 276 for six, the West Indies lost their remaining four wickets amid a flurry of strokes.

Jerome Blackwood reached his third Test half-century with a cover drive for four off Steyn but was then trapped in front of his stumps with a full, swinging delivery after making top score of 56.

Jason Holder and Jerome Taylor both went for their shots before perishing to mistimed blows. Holder top-edged a pull and was caught at mid-on and Taylor was caught at fine leg when he hooked a ball from Morkel.

Suleiman Benn was last man out, driving Morkel to mid-off. Steyn finished with four for 78 and Morkel two for 83.

Taylor and Gabriel both built up plenty of pace at the start of the South African innings, with Gabriel recorded at over 150kmh.

But they bowled some loose deliveries as they tried to unsettle the batsmen with short-pitched deliveries.

Both fast bowlers conceded wides with balls that climbed over wicketkeeper Denesh Ramdin’s head for four extra runs.

The tall Holder conceded 12 runs in his first over after replacing Gabriel but followed up with a maiden before Elgar played across a full delivery and was out for eight.

Petersen was looking good until Du Plessis played a ball to backward point and Petersen called for the run, only to be beaten by a superb throw from Blackwood.

Du Plessis reached his half-century off 81 balls with six fours.

Scoreboard

WEST INDIES (1st Innings, overnight 276-6):

K. Brathwaite c Elgar b Steyn 7 D. Smith b Harmer 47 L. Johnson lbw b Harmer 54 M. Samuels c Du Plessis b Van Zyl 43 S. Chanderpaul st De Villiers b Harmer 9 J. Blackwood lbw b Steyn 56 D. Ramdin c and b Steyn 53 J. Holder c Van Zyl b Steyn 23 J. Taylor c Steyn b Morkel 13 S. Benn c Bavuma b Morke l5 S. Gabriel not out 4

EXTRAS (LB-5, NB-2, W-8) 15

TOTAL (99.5 overs) 329

FALL OF WKTS: 1-30, 2-80, 3-131, 4-162, 5-172, 6-266, 7-299, 8-316, 9-319.

BOWLING: Steyn 25-6-78-4 (3w), Philander 19-2-73-0 (1nb), Morkel 19.5-1-83-2 (1nb, 1w), Harmer 26-5-71 -3, Van Zyl 8-2-13-1, Elgar 2-0-6-0.

SOUTH AFRICA (1st Innings):

A. Petersen run out (Blackwood) 42

D. Elgar lbw b Holder 8

F. du Plessis not out 51

H. Amla not out 16

EXTRAS (LB-2, NB-5, W-11) 18

TOTAL (2 wkts, 42 overs) 135

FALL OF WKTS: 1-48, 2-112.

BOWLING: Taylor 9-1-35-0 (1w), Gabriel 7-2-25-0 (3nb, 2w), Holder 9-3-30-1 (2nb), Samuels 5-0-16-0, Benn 12-3-27-0. TO BAT: A. de Villiers, S. van Zyl, T. Bavuma, V. Philander,

S. Harmer, D. Steyn, M. Morkel

Published in Dawn, January 4th, 2015

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