Career best bowling figures from Wiaan Mulder, half-centuries from Aiden Markram and Kyle Verreynne put South Africa in a commanding position on Day 2 of the second Test against the West Indies in Guyana. At stumps, the Proteas were 223/5 in their second innings, extending their overall lead to 239 runs.

South Africa bowls out West Indies for 144

After bowling out the West Indies for 144 in the morning session to take a slim 16-run first innings lead, South Africa built on their advantage thanks to solid knocks from Markram and Verreynne. Markram scored 51 off 108 balls at the top of the order, while wicketkeeper-batsman Verreynne remained unbeaten on 50 from 71 deliveries by the end of the day.

The day began with the West Indies trying to limit South Africa’s lead, but an unbeaten 54 from Jason Holder and a cameo from Shamar Joseph (25) helped the hosts get closer to the visitors’ first-innings total of 160. Joseph, who took a five-wicket haul in the first innings, was eventually dismissed leg-before-wicket by Keshav Maharaj.

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South Africa finishes Day 2 on a high

In South Africa’s second innings, Markram and Tony de Zorzi provided an attacking start, putting on 79 runs for the opening wicket. However, the West Indies bowlers, led by Jayden Seales (3/52) and Gudakesh Motie (2/61), fought back to reduce South Africa to 139/5 at one stage. Verreynne then found an able partner in Mulder (34 not out), and the pair had added an unbroken 84 runs for the sixth wicket by stumps. Mulder, who took 4 wickets for 32 runs in the West Indies’ first innings, played an aggressive hand, hitting two sixes in the final two overs of the day.

With a healthy lead and two set batters at the crease, South Africa will look to extend their advantage further on the third day. The West Indies, on the other hand, will need early wickets to keep themselves in the game.

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