Elgar will retire from international cricket after next week’s clash in Cape Town and offered a fitting reminder of his qualities with a polished 140 not out – his first Proteas ton in nearly three years.
The 36-year-old occupied the crease for 66 overs, facing 211 deliveries and cracking 23 fours to lead his side to 256 for five. That put South Africa into a narrow lead of 11, with the tourists having earlier been bowled out for 245.
KL Rahul, resuming on 70 overnight, completed a superb century of his own as he scored 31 of his side’s 37 runs in the morning session. He was last man out, bowled by debutant Nadre Burger, having almost single-handedly kept India competitive.
With Elgar holding firm at the top of the order and captain Temba Bavuma absent with a hamstring injury, India successfully chipped away Aiden Markram, Tony de Zorzi and Keegan Petersen to leave the hosts 113 for three.
But another newcomer, Durham batter David Bedingham, helped South Africa press ahead with an elegant 56 in his maiden Test innings. He put on 131 alongside Elgar, who brought up his 14th hundred, before being cleaned up by Mohamed Siraj.
Kyle Verreyne followed as Prasidh Krishna opened his account as a Test bowler before bad light brought an early finish.
South Africa, after winning the toss and batting first, were bowled out for 160 in 54 overs while the West Indies were 97-7 after 28.2 overs in reply, trailing by 63 runs at stumps on day one.
South Africa were made to rue their decision to bat first very quickly as Tony de Zorzi (1), Aiden Markram (14), Temba Bavuma (0) and Tristan Stubbs (26) all fell before the 25th over to leave them reeling at 57-4.
That quickly became 97-9 when Kyle Verreynne, their last recognized batsman, became Shamar Joseph’s fifth victim of the innings with just 36.1 overs on the board.
With the West indies seemingly on the brink of restricting South Africa to less than 100, Dane Piedt and Nandre Burger showed grit, fighting off some quality West Indian bowling on the way to a final wicket partnership of 63 before Burger finally fell off the bowling of Gudakesh Motie for 23 in the 54th over.
David Bedingham was South Africa’s top scorer in the first innings with 28.
Joseph finished with figures of 5-33 off 14 overs and was supported well by Jayden Seales who took 3-45, also from 14 overs.
The West Indian reply got off to a disappointing start when Mikyle Louis was bowled by Burger for a duck in the second over.
The hosts then continued to lose wickets at regular intervals as Kraigg Brathwaite (3), Alick Athanaze (1), Kavem Hodge (4), Keacy Carty (26), and Joshua Da Silva (4) all fell within the first 20 overs.
Wiaan Mulder celebrating the wicket of Joshua Da Silva.
Jason Holder has so far provided the only meaningful resistance to the South African bowling with 33* while Gudakesh Motie’s wicket for 11 in the 29th over signaled the end of the day’s play.
Wiaan Mulder has dominated the West Indian batting so far with a career best 4-18 off six overs while Burger has taken 2-32 from his seven overs.
Full Scores:
South Africa160 off 54 overs (David Bedingham 28, Tristan Stubbs 26, Shamar Joseph 5-33, Jayden Seales 3-45)
West Indies97-7 off 28.2 overs (Jason Holder 33*, Keacy Carty 26, Wiaan Mulder 4-18, Nandre Burger 2-32)
The 26-year-old former West Indies Under-19 star hit 131, his maiden first-class hundred, to propel the West Indians to a formidable 397 all out in their first innings.
The Championship XI started day two 245-6 off 82 overs with Springer and Joshua Bishop at the crease on 45 and 6, respectively.
The pair batted excellently, putting on a partnership of 107 for the seventh wicket before Bishop fell for a 78-ball 50 off the bowling of Dane Piedt.
Kemar Roach (6) and Bryan Charles (0) fell not son after before Springer became the last man to go, also off the bowling of Piedt in the 118th over.
Springer’s innings lasted 212 balls and included 16 fours and three sixes.
Piedt finished with 3-41 off 16.3 overs while pacer Kagiso Rabada took 3-47 from his nine overs.
At stumps, South Africa reached 172-2 off 52 overs, trailing the Championship XI by 225 runs.
Opener Aiden Markram made 82 before retiring hurt while captain Temba Bavuma and David Bedingham were the not out batsmen at the crease at the end of the day’s play on 36* and 35*, respectively.
Anderson Phillip and Nial Smith have split the two wickets.
Full Scores:
West Indies Championship XI 397 all out off 117.3 overs (Shamar Springer 131, Jeremy Solozano 111, Joshua Bishop 50, Dane Piedt 3-41, Kagiso Rabada 3-47, Keshav Maharaj 2-82)
South Africa 172-2 off 52 overs (Aiden Markram 82 retired hurt, Temba Bavuma 36*, David Bedingham 35*)
The hosts, who have six players in their 11 with Test experience, won the toss and chose to bat first on Tuesday, posting 287-9 before declaring.
They were led by half centuries from Keegan Petersen (59), Tony De Zorzi (55) and Clyde Fortuin (53) while David Bedingham also played well for his 47.
Jayden Seales bowled excellently up front with 3023 in 15.5 overs while Akeem Jordan took 3-61 from 18 overs. Kevin Sinclair also bowled 18 overs and took 2-64.
The West Indian opening pair of Tagenarine Chanderpaul and Zachary McCaskie were able to put on 46 in nine overs before stumps on day one.
Chanderpaul will enter day two 28* while McCaskie is on 17*.
Full scores: South Africa “A”287-9 dec. off 78.5 overs (Keegan Petersen 59, Tony De Zorzi 55, Clyde Fortuin 53, David Bedingham 47, Jayden Seales 3-23, Akeem Jordan 3-61, Kevin Sinclair 2-64)
West Indies “A”46-0 off nine overs (Tagenarine Chanderpaul 28*, Zachary McCaskie 17*)
