Ashwell Prince maintained some of the momentum as South Africa suffered a lower-order batting collapse in the third and final Test against the West Indies here on Monday.
Prince was unbeaten on 78 as South Africa, replying to West Indies’ first innings total of 231, reached 342/9 at lunch on the third day at Kensington Oval. The Proteas lead by 111 runs. Prince batted just under six hours and struck five fours from 262 deliveries.
On a dramatic morning, South Africa suffered a series of wobbles after they resumed from their overnight total of 285/6.
Mark Boucher was run out for 17 when he got entangled with Prince trying to steal a single and failed to beat Brandon Bess’s throw from mid-on to the wicketkeeper in the first hour. Johan Botha was then trapped lbw for nine off Sulieman Benn playing back and down the wrong line to a well-pitched delivery.
The slide continued when Dale Steyn was comprehensively beaten and bowled with a delivery from Kemar Roach for four.
Steyn’s dismissal was marred by controversy when he and Benn, whose five wickets for 77 runs from 46 overs made him the pick of the West Indies’ bowlers, became embroiled in a war of words and the South African appeared to spit in the direction of the left-arm spinner.
South Africa lead the three-Test series 1-0 after they won the first Test by 163 runs inside four days last Sunday at Queen’s Park Oval in Trinidad, and the second Test was drawn at Warner Park in St. Kitts. — AFP
Scores (at lunch): West Indies 231 vs South Africa 342/9 (Prince batting 78, deVilliers 73; Benn 5/77, Roach 2/59)