Bavuma’s half-century takes South Africa’s lead past 200

Tea South Africa 320 and 144 for 5 (Bavuma 81*, Mulder 15* Mayers 2-17) lead West Indies 251 by 214 runs

After West Indies dominated the first session on day three, Temba Bavuma came to South Africa’s rescue and was unbeaten on 81 at tea as the hosts stretched their lead to 214.

Starting the session on 35, Bavuma was steady at one end and put on patient partnerships with Heinrich Klaasen and then Wiaan Mulder as South Africa navigated their way out of trouble.

After South Africa lost Ryan Rickelton just before lunch, Bavuma and Klaasen were watchful for most of the first hour of the second session in the face of a disciplined bowling display from West Indies.

They batted 13 overs and added 34 runs, stretching their lead beyond 150. Bavuma flicked Kemar Roach through midwicket to bring up his half-century off 107 deliveries.

But two overs later, Joseph was brought back into the attack and he made immediate impact. A short ball outside off tempted Klaasen into going for the pull and he ended up top-edging it high in the air. Joshua Da Silva, the wicketkeeper, took a good catch running to his left.

Gudakesh Motie, who had bowled just the one over before lunch, came on after drinks and South Africa targeted the left-arm spinner while the fast bowlers kept it tight from the other end.

Mulder cut a short delivery from Motie behind point and then hit the first two deliveries of his next over – both overpitched – for two more fours, one through midwicket and the other through extra cover.

A full toss from Motie in his next over was also punched through midwicket for another boundary.

Bavuma continued to assert himself, cutting Motie behind point to take South Africa’s lead past 200 and then driving Roston Chase through extra cover.

Bavuma and Mulder went into tea with an unbroken stand of 41 runs – the highest of this innings – with Mulder batting on 15.

Earlier, Kyle Mayers got West Indies off to a great start in the day, with Dean Elgar steering him straight to gully in the first over of the day. He then got Tony de Zorzi to chop on before Aiden Markram and Bavuma steadied South Africa.

Markram was watchful and it took a jaffa from Kemar Roach to get him to nick off. Bavuma and Rickelton then defied the West Indies bowlers for the better part of an hour, adding 37 runs for the fourth wicket. The stand ended at the stroke of lunch when Raymon Reifer drew an outside edge from Rickelton.