Caption: Rain on first day of Test Match at Queen’s Park Oval
RAIN caused only 15 overs on the opening day of the Test match between South Africa and West Indies on Wednesday at the Queen’s Park Oval in Port of Spain.
The clash was marred by rain delays and interruptions, resulting in a significant loss of playing time as only a fraction of the scheduled overs were bowled.
After winning the toss and electing to bat first with an extra batter in the lineup, South Africa faced challenging conditions on a bare, lifeless pitch that demanded discipline from the West Indies bowlers. Kemar Roach led the West Indies attack with precision, testing the South African batsmen with his probing deliveries and setting the tone early on.
Aiden Markram struggled to find his rhythm against Roach’s incisive bowling, while Tony de Zorzi showed more fluency in his strokeplay against the other West Indies bowlers. However, the momentum was disrupted by the persistent rain showers that plagued the day’s play, forcing multiple interruptions and ultimately leading to the premature end of the day’s play.
The stop-start nature of the match proved to be a frustrating experience for both teams, especially for South Africa who have been eager to get back to Test cricket with a full-strength squad. With a limited red-ball schedule ahead, the loss of playing time on the opening day will be a setback for South Africa as they aim to make a mark in the ongoing World Test Championship cycle.
