Saturday, 18 April 2020 marks exactly 28 years since the start of South Africa’s return to Test cricket, after more than two decades away due to political isolation. The West Indies hosted the tourists at the Kensington Oval in Bridgetown, Barbados.
Who were the XIs?
West Indies: Desmond Haynes, Phil Simmons, Brian Lara, Richie Richardson (c), Keith Arthurton, Jimmy Adams, David Williams (wk), Curtly Ambrose, Kenneth Benjamin, Courtney Walsh, Patrick Patterson.
South Africa: Mark Rushmere, Andrew Hudson, Kepler Wessels (c), Peter Kirsten, Hansie Cronje, Adrian Kuiper, David Richardson (wk), Richard Snell, Meyrick Pringle, Allan Donald, Tertius Bosch.
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Who starred for South Africa?
Snell was deployed as second change, after Donald, Bosch and Pringle. He claimed figures of 4-83, which included the key dismissals of openers Haynes and Simmons – and opposition skipper Richardson. Bosch, meanwhile, claimed the prized removal of Lara. Snell took four more in the second innings and again got rid of Haynes and Richardson.
Snell finished with eight wickets overall, which was not enough for South Africa’s player of the match award. The accolade went to Hudson. The steely opener spent more than eight hours at the crease for a solid 163 from 384 balls, 20 fours included. Snell and Hudson never bettered the career bests achieved in this match.
What was the result?
The West Indies won by 52 runs as South Africa slipped to 148 all out in pursuit of a 201-run target. Ambrose and Walsh characteristically crashed through the fourth innings. The former took six wickets and the latter four. South Africa have only lost two other Tests to the West Indies since and won 18. They have shared seven draws, too.
Photo: Getty Images
