West Indies roar back as wickets tumble vs South Africa in first Test
The West Indians took the last four of South Africa's wickets in the space of 18 runs to leave the hosts on the rack in their second innings at 49-4.
South Africa took a big first-innings lead over West Indies before seeing its grip on the first cricket Test weakened as 11 wickets fell in a frenetic final session on day two on Wednesday. The West Indians took the last four of those wickets in the space of 18 runs to have South Africa on the rack in its second innings at 49-4.
South Africa had previously bowled West Indies out for 212 in its first innings to lead by 130. Earlier, the Proteas started a wicket-filled day at SuperSport Park by taking their first-innings total to 342.
But Alzarri Joseph collected two of the four wickets to fall at the end of the day for the tourists and South Africa was suddenly not in as dominant a position. South Africa's lead is precarious at 179 runs with six second-innings wickets left and plenty of time remaining in the match for a result.
Aiden Markram was 35 not out to go with his first-innings century but the rest of South Africa's top order was sent packing by West Indies' pace bowlers in the space of 8.1 overs.
Joseph had 2-17, after taking five wickets in the first innings, and Kemar Roach and Jason Holder picked up one wicket each.
South Africa's Temba Bavuma made it a forgettable match personally as he collected a pair of ducks in his first game as Test skipper. He was caught behind first ball off Joseph, having been out second ball to the same bowler in the first innings.
Opener Dean Elgar (1), debutant Tony de Zorzi (0) and Keegan Petersen (7) also went, leaving South Africa's fate in the hands of Markram and the lower order.
South Africa had expected to be on the way to an unbeatable position considering its big first-innings lead, which was mostly down to the pace of Anrich Nortje.
The team's quickest bowler took 5-36 and the tourists struggled to live with him despite some resistance from Raymon Reifer, who made 62, and Jermaine Blackwood, with his 37.
Nortje — and that crazy final session — accounted for the West Indies, which looked solid on 136-3 at tea, but then was all out in 20 overs after the interval, losing its last seven wickets for 43 runs.
Nortje collected four of his five wickets in three consecutive overs, when Joshua Da Silva (4) hit a cut shot straight to Marco Jansen at point, Holder (0) edged to the slips, and Joseph (4) fell in almost exactly the same way as Da Silva, clipping a wide ball to Jansen.
Joseph then made a more telling contribution with the ball to bring West Indies right back into the game.
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