Shamar Joseph Returns To Form, West Indies Struggle At 97/7 vs South Africa

Shamar Joseph marked his first taste of Test cricket on home soil with a five-wicket haul but South Africa hit back in kind as 17 wickets tumbled on a dramatic opening day of the second and final Test on Thursday. Fast bowler Joseph's haul of five for 33 led the rout of the Proteas for 160 after they chose to bat first. However seamer Wiaan Mulder responded in kind with the excellent figures of four for 18 as the Caribbean side limped to 97 for seven in reply at the close.

Omitted for the rain-affected drawn first Test in Trinidad a week earlier, Joseph recaptured the form and energy of his debut series in Australia in January.

There he famously bowled the West Indies to their first Test success Down Under for 27 years on the final day of the second Test in Brisbane with an astonishing seven-wicket haul.

In the wake of a forgettable two Tests in England last month when he looked short of work and match fitness, the Guyanese pacer made amends as soon as he came on as first-change bowler on a steamy morning at the South American venue.

'Great feeling'

He removed opener Adrian Markram almost immediately and with fellow pacer Jayden Seales (3 for 45) offering excellent support, his consistent pace and full length proved more than a handful for the South Africans in conditions which were surprisingly helpful to the fast bowlers.

"It's a great feeling to have done this at home," said 24-year-old Joseph in reflecting on his third five-wicket Test innings haul.

"I haven't really played much here at Providence but I always go in with a clear plan to do what the team needed, and I am glad I was able to deliver today."

It took a last-wicket partnership of 63 by Dane Piedt (38 not out) and Nandre Burger (23) to lift the visitors