A career-best Test century from Proteas captain Temba Bavuma powered his side into a dominant position on the third day of the second Test against the West Indies at Wanderers on Friday evening, with the Proteas ending the day on 288/7 in all. lead from 356 runs.
Bavuma came to the crease early in the day with the team in trouble at 8/2, and then powered his way to a brilliant unbeaten 171 off 275 balls, slamming 20 fours along the way, to put the team into a winning position by two. the day is still in Test.
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He shared two important partnerships, 103 for the sixth wicket with Wiaan Mulder (42), which was integral in helping the captain reach the milestone of his second Test century, and then 71 for the seventh wicket with Simon Harmer (19) as he fought back brilliantly from poor start.
At the start of the game, the Proteas started the day with an overall lead of 73 and at 4/0 in the second innings, with Dean Elgar (5) and Aiden Markram (18) at the crease, but they were soon in trouble early on. three quick wickets.
Kyle Mayers had Elgar caught in the gully by Roston Chase and then bowled Tony de Zorzi (1) out from the inside edge after the batter seemed unsure whether to play or leave, followed by the in-form Markram edging Kemar Roach to goalkeeper Joshua da Silva, leaving The Proteas are in trouble at 32/3.
Bavuma and Ryan Rickelton (10) tried to take the safe side for lunch with a 37-run stand, only for Rickelton to chase a wide delivery from Raymon Reifer and the edge to the goalkeeper, leaving Bavuma unbeaten on 35 at the break and the Proteas. 69/4.
Post lunch
In the post-lunch session Bavuma was joined by Heinrich Klaasen (14) and they combined for a 34-run fifth wicket partnership before Klaasen tried to pull a short ball from Alzarri Joseph, only to get a wide top edge, with keeper Da Silva walking. around to the leg side and take a good catch.
Bringers Mulder and Bavuma both took the Proteas to tea at 145/5, before continuing their strong partnership in the final session of the day.
Bavuma eventually reached his century in style, smashing a wide delivery from Joseph through cover for four to get to the mark, before they took the Proteas past 200.
Mulder was then caught in the pursuit of quick runs, with a score of 206/6, but Bavuma found another willing partner in Harmer, allowing him to bring up his maiden Test of 150, as he almost took the Proteas through the day.
But shortly before close Harmer was trapped LBW by Jason Holder, leaving Bavuma and Keshav Maharaj (3no) not out at the end of the spin.