South Africa vs. West Indies, 2nd Test, Day 1: Highlights, Scorecard, Report

South Africa assumed control of the second Test against the West Indies, reaching 270-2 at stumps after a frustrating day for the tourists.

The West Indies won the toss and elected to bowl first, and though they picked up only a single wicket in the morning, they at least retained control with the ball.

In the afternoon, they fashioned chances but missed them all, allowing Dean Elgar and Faf du Plessis to put on a substantial partnership.

Elgar notched another Test century, while du Plessis will resume on Saturday needing just one more run to score his own.

Batsman	Dismissal	Bowler	Runs	Mins	Balls
Bowler	Overs	Maidens	Runs	Wickets
Elgar	c Ramdin	b Peters	121	315	239
Petersen	c Johnson	b Gabriel	17	57	35
du Plessis	not out		99	313	228
Amla	not out		17	55	33
Extras	7nb 5w 0b 4lb	16
Total	for 2 (88.0 ovs)	270
Taylor	19.0	4	64	0
Peters	15.0	6	44	1
Holder	13.0	5	25	0
Gabriel	15.0	0	52	1
Benn	25.0	3	81	0
Samuels	1.0	1	0	0

As the day wore on, it became obvious they would end the day in Port Elizabeth in trouble.

There was a debutant on either side—batsman Temba Bavuma for South Africa and bowler Kenroy Peters for the tourists.

West Indies made a further two changes from the first Test but made the same call at the coin toss, choosing to bowl first on a pitch that did initially look like it could offer something.

But without Kemar Roach's pace, they had to resort to economy and discipline with the ball, and while that stifled the Proteas, it did not penetrate.

Alviro Petersen did fall on 17—again he got a start, but his bizarre shot trying to help the ball over square will only put further pressure on his place.

While it was a gift to the visiting team, the score was 68-1 at lunch.

After lunch, spinner Sulieman Benn came to the fore, bowling with flight, guile and craft. With du Plessis accumulating slowly and Elgar still seeming to lack confidence, Benn's bowling applied pressure. 

But chances came and went. Most painful of all was a missed stumping as Elgar stepped forward and yorked himself. Elgar was beaten, but skipper Denesh Ramdin failed to gather the ball. Benn's displeasure was evident as he chuntered away to himself for the rest of his spell.

Meanwhile, the Proteas grew in stature. Having won so comprehensively in the first Test, they swelled in confidence as Elgar raised a half-century and then proceeded far more serenely toward a ton.

There was a wicket in the evening session, Peters' first at Test level, as Elgar played at a ball he could have left and feathered behind to Ramdin, but given it brought the remarkable Hashim Amla to the middle, it was a mixed blessing.

Michael Sheehan/Associated Press

Amla was happy to play himself in as du Plessis eased toward a century of his own. The fact that he was 99 not out at stumps was the only thing that could take any gloss off the day.

If those two—and AB de Villiers, slated to come in next—bat for any length of time on Day 2, the result could be ugly for the West Indies, and it could be a tough game to salvage for the tourists.