AP, Port Elizabeth :
The second Test between South Africa and the West Indies ended in a draw Tuesday after a wet outfield prevented any play on the final day at St. George’s Park.
Overnight rain had left the outfield square of the wicket sodden, and after numerous inspections the umpires called the game off shortly after 1100 GMT.
With only six overs of play possible on Day 2 and only 35 overs bowled on Day 4, the West Indies first innings was not even concluded in the match.
The tourists were 275-9 in reply to South Africa’s 417-8 declared, and will now go to Cape Town for the third and final Test trailing 1-0 in the series.
After inducing a West Indian collapse on the fourth evening, South Africa had intended to force a result in the match with some enterprising play on Day 5, only to be denied by the weather.
“We were hoping to bowl them out early this morning, set a target and then win the game,” South Africa captain Hashim Amla said. “It’s a little disappointing, but when it comes to the weather I am never too fussed. I was surprised that the ground held up for so long. I think it just rained too much.”
West Indies opener Kraigg Brathwaite was named man of the match for his 106, which contributed to a much improved performance by the tourists after they were blown away in the first test at Centurion.
Marlon Samuels also scored a century, and the West Indies bowling showed greater discipline after the tourists brought Shannon Gabriel and 32-year-old debutant Kenroy Peters into their seam attack.
“We had two centurions against the No. 1 bowling attack in the world, so what we’ve got to take from here is the way that Marlon and Kraigg batted,” West Indies coach Stuart Williams said. “We were also more consistent with the ball – Shannon Gabriel with his pace, and Kenroy Peters on debut, in the latter stage of his career, showed he could put his hand up.”
The third Test starts Friday at Newlands.
