Brutal de Kock stars on dominant day for South Africa

South Africa were bowled out for 322 in their first innings by tea on day two of the Test after dismissing the West Indies for 97 on Thursday.

The West Indies finished the day at 82/4, still trailing by 143 after Kagiso Rabada (2/18) and Anrich Nortje (2/34) made early inroads.

South Africa’s 225-run first innings lead was largely secured thanks to an unbeaten 141 from de Kock, whose innings started with the Proteas in danger of allowing a big first innings lead to escape them.

The wicket-keeper-batter came out to bat late on the opening day with South Africa 119/4 following a timely double-strike from Jayden Seales (3/75). He finished the day on four, having already shown signs of his touch with a delectable push to mid-on for three.

He started day two by crunching Kemar Roach (2/64) for four through point and helped himself to another boundary at the end of the day’s opening over with a smack through mid-off.

Alongside Rassie van der Dussen he took South Africa’s lead past 50, helping himself to another two boundaries in the third and final over of Roach’s initial spell. He had raced to 22 off 24 by that point but the introduction of Roston Chase’s (0/14) off-spin coincided with a slowing of the run rate and de Kock’s first scare of the innings.

On 23, he was given out lbw against the spinner but wisely reviewed, with DRS confirming it had struck his glove before his pad.

Having weathered the early storm of boundaries from the South Africans, the West Indies hit back through Jason Holder (4/75), drawing an edge from van der Dussen (46) that was caught sharply by Shai Hope at gully.

That was the lone wicket of the session for the West Indies, with South Africa reaching the first interval with a lead of 108 and a streaky Wiaan Mulder on 21.

Mulder’s luck ran out after the break, perishing caught behind for 25 to Holder, leaving de Kock to bat with the tail. He raised his half-century in the company of Keshav Maharaj (0) who duly bid his farewells, caught brilliantly at bat-pad off the bowling of Rahkeem Cornwall (1/61).

When Rabada fell for four to Roach, South Africa were 233/8, with an already sizable lead but a less than stellar total on the cards.

It was from here that de Kock launched his attack. On 63 off 117 at that point, de Kock put the sword to debutant Seales, smashing 17 runs in a single over, including one four and two sixes across four deliveries.

With a boundary down the ground off Kyle Mayers (0/28) he moved in the nineties and in the all-rounder's next over he pulled him for four and then launched him for six over square leg to bring up his century. It was the South African’s sixth Test ton and his first since October 2019.

He smashed two sixes off a Cornwall over to continue the momentum and then helped himself to 11 runs in the space of three deliveries from Holder as South Africa’s lead swelled past 200 before the dismissal of Nortje. The No.10 had contributed seven runs in a 79-run stand, but more importantly survived 29 deliveries before perishing to Holder.

Holder wrapped up the South African innings when he removed Lungi Ngidi but not before de Kock helped himself to one more six, finishing his knock with seven in total alongside 12 fours.

The West Indies’ hopes of clawing their way back into the contest were dealt significant blows in the final session of the day as Rabada trapped Kraigg Brathwaite (7) and Kieran Powell (14) in front before Nortje had Shai Hope (12) and Kyle Mayers (12) caught in the cordon.

Roston Chase (21) and Jermaine Blackwood (10) will resume play on day three with the West Indies needing to climb a mountain to get back into the contest.