By Neil Manthorp.
No play was possible before lunch on the fourth day of the first test match between the West Indies and South Africa at the Queen’s Park Oval in Port of Spain, Trinidad, on Saturday because of persistent rain.
The home side were due to resume on 145-4 in reply to South Africa’s first innings total of 357 in which Proteas captain, Temba Bavuma, top scored with 86 from 182 deliveries with opener Tony de Zorzi scoring a patient 78 on the second day.
A slow and unresponsive pitch has so far offered all of the bowlers little assistance and the tourists scoring rate of three runs per over was a reflection of little pace there was for the batsmen to work with.
The West Indies run rate barely crept over two runs per over.
With no apparent break forecast in the light, morning rain and heavier showers predicted for the afternoon, it seems increasingly likely that the match will end on the fifth day as a damp, uneventful draw.
Keshav Maharaj (28-13-45-3) claimed three wickets in a marathon spell of 28 overs at the end of the third day to give South Africa a chance of forcing a result but the seasonal rain seems to have ended that prospect.
The second test begins at the Providence Stadium in Georgetown, Guyana, on Thursday, 15 August.
West Indies: Kraigg Brathwaite (captain), Mikyle Louis, Keacy Carty, Alick Athanaze, Kavem Hodge, Jason Holder, Joshua Da Silva (wkt), Gudakesh Motie, Jayden Seales, Kemar Roach, Jomel Warrican
South Africa: Aidan Markram, Tony de Zorzi, Tristan Stubbs, Temba Bavuma (captain), David Bedingham, Ryan Rickelton, Kyle Verreynne (wkt), Wiaan Mulder, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi.