Shamar Joseph has been feted and celebrated in his native Guyana, across the Caribbean, and beyond, since his magical international debut in January of this year. The 24-year-old former security guard ripped through Australia at the Gabba. He was named player of the series, and was handed ICC Men’s Player of the Month honours, the first West Indies player to be so honoured.
A contract with Lucknow Super Giants in the Indian Premier League followed, and selection to the West Indies squad for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup.
His career still in its infancy, though, the man from Baracara was yet to play in front of a home crowd at the highest level. Stuck to the bench in the World Cup, he was made to wait for the chance to impress his Caribbean fans.
Finally, Joseph got the opportunity to make his home debut on his home ground, named to the West Indies final XI for the second Test against South Africa at Providence on Thursday. And he delivered everything that could possibly have been asked of him.
The Proteas elected to have a bat, but they might have rued that decision after Tony de Zorzi went to Jayden Seales for one, and Joseph’s consistent pace and full length did for Aiden Markram for 14.
Two balls later, with the score still on 20, Joseph sent South African captain Temba Bavuma back to the dressing room for nought, trapped leg before wicket.
Tristan Stubbs and David Bedingham put together a minor recovery, adding 57 runs, before Stubbs was caught for 26 off the bowling of veteran all-rounder Jason Holder.
Bedingham combined with wicketkeeper Kyle Verreynne for a 21-run partnership, before the former was caught driving to a full ball just outside off from Joseph.
Verreyne appeared to be on top of Jayden Seales, but he ceded strike to his new partner, Wiaan Mulder, at the end of the 30th over. That proved to be the undoing of Wulder, who was caught behind off the bowling of the young speedster from Trinidad & Tobago.
Keshav Maharaj lasted not much longer, the third player to go for a duck in the South African innings. Kagiso Rabada was the fourth, a third wicket for Seales. Verreynne finally succumbed in the 37th over, with his team still three runs shy of three figures, and with just one wicket in hand. His ouster for 21 sealed Joseph’s fivefer.
But here the fairytale began to crumble for the home team. Dane Piedt (not out 38) and Nandre Burger (23) offered stubborn resistance, and put on the most significant partnership for the tourists. South Africa were finally dismissed for 160.
Joseph took 5-33 in 14 overs. Seales supported well with 3-45 in 14. Holder (1-26) and spinner Gudakesh Motie (1-28) also came to the party, whilst Jomel Warrican bowled eight wicketless overs for 19 runs.
“Personally I think it’s a great accomplishment for myself and also for the team,” Joseph said. “I don’t think you could do anything without having a team behind your back. I just think moving forward I just want to continue to do my best and for the team also.”
Joseph noted that the wicket was surprisingly bouncy and helpful to the bowlers, despite captain Kraigg Brathwaite’s forecast of placidity on Wednesday. But the South African bowlers also took note of the success that had been enjoyed by the home quicks.
Burger bowled Mikyle Louis for a duck in the second over. Brathwaite went by the same route to Mulder in the eighth. Two overs thereafter, Alick Athanaze was caught and bowled Mulder for one. His fellow countryman, Kavem Hodge, could manage only four before being caught off Mulder. And Keacy Carty, in just his second match, eventually fell for 26 to Burger.
Joshua Da Silva’s was the sixth wicket to fall, for four, with the score 56-6, even worse off than the South Africans had been. Holder and Motie engineered something of a recovery, adding 41 runs before Motie was given LBW to Maharaj.
West Indies resume on Friday morning 87-7, 63 runs behind their guests. Holder is on 33, with Warrican, Joseph, and Seales to come. Joseph is looking forward to the challenge.
“Jason Holder as the senior batsman there, all we have to do is just to come and support him in the best way that we could and try to build partnership on partnership. That is important for us at this stage of the game, so partnership is a big thing.”
With 17 wickets down on the opening day, this has been as enthralling a contest as one could have hoped for. There will surely be further twists in the tale, but this game will almost certainly decide the outcome of the two-match series. (TF)
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