Vernon Philander wins it for South Africa against dispirited West Indies

Sport360 staff 07:45 20/12/2014
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  • On song: Vernon Philander picked up four wickets in West Indies’ first innings

    Vernon Philander was the main destroyer as the West Indian bat­ting crumbled on the third day of the first Test against South Africa at SuperSport Park yesterday.

    – S. Africa in assuring position after day two of West Indies Test

    Philander took four for 29 as the West Indies were bowled out for 201 and forced to follow on, 351 runs behind South Africa’s first innings total of 552 for five de­clared.

    Philander struck again early in the second innings when he dis­missed Devon Smith for the second time in the day. West Indies were 76 for two at the close, still needing 275 runs to avoid an innings defeat.

    There was a setback for South Africa, however, as strike bowler Dale Steyn limped off the field after bowling only five balls in the follow on innings.

    Steyn returned after the second afternoon drinks break, however, and was on the field long enough to be eligible to bowl at the start of to­day’s play. Philander, who had taken only four wickets at high cost in his previous four Test matches, did not take a wicket in his opening spell yesterday but transformed the match when he came back for a sec­ond spell.

    After a good start by opening batsmen Kraigg Brathwaite and Smith, the West Indian batting disintegrated in dispiriting fashion.

    Brathwaite and Smith saw off South Africa’s new ball attack, putting on 72 for the first wicket before Philander dismissed both openers in successive overs.

    The right-handed Brathwaite looked solid but the left-handed Smith survived a confident appeal – and an unsuccessful review – for leg before wicket by Philander with his score on five.

    Smith went on to make 35 before being caught behind off Philander’s fourth ball of his sec­ond spell. He was given not out by umpire Billy Bowden but Philander asked for a review which showed a faint bottom edge as Smith played a cramped pull shot.

    Brathwaite fell for 34 in Philan­der’s next over, edging a low catch to Hashim Amla at first slip.

    Philander took two for two in four overs in his second spell.

    Kyle Abbott had Leon Johnson caught at cover for 33 after lunch and Morne Morkel took the impor­tant wicket of Marlon Samuels, who chopped the ball on to his stumps after making 33.

    That left Shivnarine Chander­paul holding West Indian hopes but Philander returned to the attack and had the veteran left-hander caught at second slip for 21. The rest of the batting crumbled after tea with captain Denesh Ramdin getting out for 14 to part time bowl­er Dean Elgar.

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