WI Championship XI force draw against South Africa in warm-up
It was a drawn result for visitors South Africa and the West Indies Championship XI on Saturday morning, as the visitors readied for their upcoming two-match Test series against the West Indies.
Following the Windies Championship’s big first innings total, South Africa replied with 408-8, as several of their batsmen got to half-centuries. The first to do so was Aiden Markram, who hit 82 in 107 balls before retiring hurt.
Proteas Captain Temba Bavuma hit 51 in 145 balls, while David Bedingham had 74 from 107 deliveries. Also etching half-centuries were Ryan Rickelton and Kyle Verreynne, who contributed 80 and 65 runs respectively.
While the wickets were hard to come by for the Windies players, many of the South Africans retired, giving their teammates a feel of the bat.
Aiden Markram top-scored for South Africa in their lone batting innings
Aside from Nial Smith and Anderson Philip’s second-day wickets, Shamar Springer and Jediah Blades claimed the scalps of Matthew Breetzke and Keshav Maharaj as the visitors were eight men down before thy declared.
Batting in the second innings, Guyana’s Tagenarine Chanderpaul got out for 14 from 51 deliveries, while the next best score of 13 came from Springer following a pair of ducks from Jeremy Solozano and Kevin Wickham.
Guyana’s Nial Smith picked up one of only four clear-cut wickets for West Indies
Lungi Ngidi was the pick of the South African bowlers, with returns of 3-8 from 4 overs while Dane Piedt claimed the remaining wicket. West Indies accumulated 46-4 in 27 overs before the drawn result was declared.
Meanwhile, Bryan Charles and Justin Greaves, who were in the Championship XI, have broken into the West Indies Test squad, while Kemar Roach, also playing in the warm-up match, makes his return.
The remainder of the West Indian squad announced on Friday afternoon reads: Captain Kraigg Brathwaite, Vice Captain Joshua Da Silva, Alick Athanaze, Keacy Carty, Jason Holder, Kavem Hodge, Tevin Imlach, Shamar Joseph, Mikyle Louis, Gudakesh Motie, Jayden Seales, and Jomel Warrican.
The South Africa squad reads: Captain Temba Bavuma, David Bedingham, Matthew Breetzke, Nandre Burger, Gerald Coetzee, Tony de Zorzi, Keshav Maharaj, Aiden Markram, Wiaan Mulder, Lungi Ngidi, Dane Paterson, Dane Piedt, Kagiso Rabada, Ryan Rickelton, Tristan Stubbs and Kyle Verreynne.
The first official match of the Test series will bowl off on Wednesday, August 7 at the Queen’s Park Oval, Trinidad and Tobago. The second match will commence on August 15 at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence.
