Kraigg Brathwaite and Marlon Samuels hit centuries in a record stand before the West Indies collapsed on the fourth day of the second Test against South Africa at St George's Park on Monday. At the end of a day when less than three hours of play was possible because of rain, the West Indies were teetering at 275 for nine in reply to South Africa's first innings total of 417 for eight declared. Brathwaite made 106 and Samuels hit 101 before both were out in successive overs. They put on 176, a record third wicket partnership for the West Indies against South Africa, beating the 160 by Shivnarine Chanderpaul and Brian Lara in Durban in 1998/99.
Their dismissals sparked an all-too familiar collapse. Shivnarine Chanderpaul and captain Denesh Ramdin added 27 for the fifth wicket to take the total to 260 before five wickets fell for 15 runs in five overs.
Rain and a wet outfield delayed the start of play until after lunch and the afternoon's play was interrupted for half an hour when what had been light drizzle became heavier.
Then, with South Africa looking to finish off the West Indian innings and stretch their lead with a potential one-and-a-half hours of play remaining, the rain returned 50 minutes after tea.
Brathwaite, 22, confirmed that he is an opening batsman of rare talent and composure as he saw off South Africa's trio of world-class bowlers, Dale Steyn, Vernon Philander and Morne Morkel, in making his third Test century in his 16th Test.
He gave two difficult chances. Shortly before the close of play on Sunday he drove the ball back hard and low to leg-spinner Imran Tahir with his score on 64.
On one of the few occasions when he did not deal well with a short delivery, a bouncer from Steyn was fended over the slips when he was on 90. Faf du Plessis ran back from second slip and flung himself at the ball but could not hold on.
For the rest, he showed a sound defence and played some impressive drives, particularly off the back foot, in hitting 106 off 186 balls with 12 fours.
The more experienced Samuels looked less assured in handling short-pitched deliveries, with Morkel giving him some anxious moments bowling around the wicket, but played some handsome strokes in making his sixth Test century.
Samuels made 101 off 160 balls with 14 fours and a six before he was leg before wicket to Vernon Philander. Brathwaite followed in the next over when he edged a drive against Morkel to second slip.
Scoreboard
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South Africa, first innings, 417-8 dec
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West Indies, first innings (overnight 147-2)
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K. Brathwaite c Petersen b Morkel 106
D. Smith c Amla b Morkel 22
L. Johnson c Du Plessis b Morkel 0
M. Samuels lbw b Philander 101
S. Chanderpaul b Imran Tahir 7
D. Ramdin lbw b Imran Tahir 20
J. Holder c De Villiers b Morkel 1
J. Taylor not out 10
S. Benn c Petersen b Imran Tahir 4
K. Peters run out (Steyn) 0
Extras: (lb4) 4
Total: (9 wkts, 79 overs) 275
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Fall of wickets: 1-55 (Smith), 2-55 (Johnson), 3-231 (Samuels), 4-233 (Brathwaite), 5-260 (Ramdin), 6-261 (Chanderpaul), 7-265 (Holder), 8-270 (Benn), 9-275 (Peters)
Bowling: Steyn 14-3-48-0, Philander 18-4-41-1, Morkel 20-2-69-4, Imran Tahir 26-2-108-3, Elgar 1-0-5-0
To bat: S. Gabriel
Toss: West Indies
Umpires: Billy Bowden (NZL), Paul Reiffel (AUS)
TV umpire: Aleem Dar (PAK)
Match referee: Ranjan Madugalle (SRI).
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