Markram, De Zorzi bat SA into strength, but Windies fight back to even out first day

What should have been a day of strength for South Africa ended with honours even as the West Indies fought back to contain their hosts on the first day of the second Test on Wednesday.

South Africa finished the day on 311/7, a far cry from the powerful 247/2 at tea that should have allowed SA to power themselves to an imposing first-day total.

They had 50s from Aiden Markram and Tony de Zorzi to fall back on, but they didn't carry the three-figure weight that would have allowed the hosts to sleep easy.,

Having won the toss and chose to bat first on a decently grassed dry strip, but also carried a bare patch at the Golf Course end that explained why SA's Test coach Shukri Conrad chose two spinners in Keshav Maharaj and Simon Harmer, SA held all the cards at a ground that's notoriously difficult to chase on.

It was an advantage that should have been drilled home, but they didn't as the pitch, while it had true bounce and decent pace, lacked the venom that's made batting at the Wanderers a difficult occupation.

SA knew this and batted well enough for stretches of the first day to make the most of the unusual placidness, but gave up the ghost again in the evening session.

In what seemed to be a repeat of the first evening of the first Test, South Africa took the game by the scruff of the neck in the first two sessions before allowing them back in.

The West Indies only had two wickets to show for their efforts on the first morning and afternoon before finding last week's bowling gear that preyed on SA's inconsistencies to snare five wickets.  

South Africa's top four of Dean Elgar (42), Markram (96), De Zorzi (85), and Temba Bavuma (28) could have and should have been converted into something significant.

Gudakesh Motie, the