Athanaze leads Windies to hard-fought draw with South Africa in first Test

Alick Athanaze narrowly missed out on his maiden Test century but played a crucial role in securing a draw for the West Indies against South Africa on the final day of the rain-affected first Test at Queen's Park Oval.

Chasing an improbable target of 298 after South Africa declared their second innings at 173 for three just before lunch, Athanaze’s gritty knock of 92 and a key fifth-wicket partnership of 65 with Jason Holder (31 not out) guided the hosts from a precarious 127 for four just after tea to 201 for five at the close of play.

As in the first innings, Keshav Maharaj posed the greatest threat to the West Indies, with the left-arm spinner taking four for 88 and finishing with match figures of eight for 164. Athanaze, who came to the crease with the West Indies in trouble at 18 for two following early breakthroughs by Maharaj and Kagiso Rabada, exhibited commendable patience.

Over three hours, he faced 116 balls and struck nine fours. However, with the end of play in sight, his discipline faltered, and the 25-year-old from Dominica, eager to reach the century milestone, top-edged a sweep off Maharaj, resulting in a catch at backward square-leg by Ryan Rickelton.

Maharaj, who was named player of the match, explained his approach: "It was just about dragging the length back and trying to exploit the rough outside his off-stump. Full credit must go to him for the way he played. I just tried to stick to my plans and utilize different angles from the crease."

Earlier in the day, Tristan Stubbs' aggressive 68 off 50 balls (including six fours and two sixes) led South Africa's pursuit of quick runs on a bright, sweltering morning. His maiden Test half-century was supported by openers Tony de Zorzi (45) and Aiden Markram (38), who scored at nearly a run-a-ball before captain Temba Bavuma declared when Stubbs was bowled by veteran seamer Kemar Roach.

Reflecting on the match, Bavuma said, "We expected the wicket to break up a little more than it did. In the end, we just didn't have enough time, plus the elements got in the way of what could have been a really good competitive game of cricket."

West Indies captain Kraigg Brathwaite, who was dismissed in the first over of the innings after slicing an ambitious lofted drive to cover off Maharaj, remained optimistic about his team's chances. "We believed we could have gotten the runs," he said. "We knew it wasn't going to be easy, but my message to the boys was to back themselves and fully commit to their plans at the crease."

With more than two days lost to rain, there are concerns that the second and final Test, scheduled to begin at the Guyana National Stadium on Thursday, may also be affected by weather. This raises further questions about the wisdom of scheduling international cricket, particularly Test matches, in the southern Caribbean during the heart of the rainy season.