Live Cricket Score of South Africa vs West Indies, 2nd Test, Day 1 at Port Elizabeth

The series shifted to Port Elizabeth where No. 1 Test team, South Africa looked to complete another series win in 2014. West Indies had much to do after a dismal showing in Centurion. To compound matters, speedster Kemar Roach was ruled out of the series with an ankle injury and was replaced, in the squad by Windward Island pacer, Kenroy Peters. Port Elizabeth offered, the touring side ,a slightly better wicket than the one at the SuperSport Park to compete against the all-conquering Proteas.

South Africa, on their part, had an almost complete performance in the first Test. Some more runs for the top order and a bright performance for the debutant Temba Bavumba would hold them in good stead, going in to 2015. Quinton de Kock's injury meant, AB de Villiers took over full-time keeping duties for the home side.

West Indies capatain, Denesh Ramdin, won the toss and opted to field first in Port Elizabeth. Incidentally, Hashim Amla said he would have batted first anyway. Kenroy Peters debuted for the visitors, replacing injured fast bowler, Kemar Roach. South Africa on the other handed over a Test cap to Temba Bavumba, who received his cap from South Africa great, Herschelle Gibbs and replaced Kyle Abbott with leggie, Imran Tahir.

West Indies also brought in ODI captain Jason Holder and Shanon Gabriel in place of Jermaine Blackwood and Sheldon Cottrell.

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South Africa 31/0 (Elgar 18*, Petersen 8*)

South Africa opener, Alviro Petersen, once again failed to capitalize on a start as he gifted his wicket to Shannon Gabriel in his first over. Looking to upper-cut a short and wide delivery from Gabriel, Petersen didn't quite judge the height on that delivery and ended up looping a catch to the fielder at cover, who had to run back a few steps to complete it.

The dismissal marked a recurring trend of Petersen not converting his starts.

My wife is not 100% perfect, but I am not about to divorce her for that
My wife is not 100% perfect, but I am not about to divorce her for that

West Indies bowlers improved their lengths after the drinks break in the opening session of the second Test. Shanon Gabriel and Jason Holder hit tight lines to restrict scoring opportunities for Elgar and Du Plessis. South Africa who had scored 40 in the first ten overs managed only 16 runs in the second ten.

After winning the toss and electing to field, West Indies appeared to gift easy runs to South Africa as the hosts marched to 40/0 after the first 10 overs with new ball bowlers Jerome Taylor and debutant Kenroy Peters failed to hit the good lengths on a consistent basis. However, the freak dismissal of Alviro Petersen, looking to upper cut a short and wide delivery from Shannon Gabriel, enabled the visitors to dry up the runs. Change bowlers, Gabriel, Holder and Benn gave away only 28 runs in the next 15 overs with disciplined bowling as the teams took lunch on Day 1 with South Africa reaching 68/1.

SA 68/1 (Dean Elgar 35*, A Petersen 17; S Gabriel 1/10)

Marlon Samuels dropped a regulation catch at gully when Faf Du Plessis, looking to cut a back of a length Jerome Taylor delivery, only succeeded in getting a thick edge. The ball flew quickly to Samuels' left and at a catch-able height, only for the fielder to drop it. Du Plessis was on 8.

SA 78/1

Dean Elgar and Faf du Plessis completed their fifty-run partnership while increasing the scoring rate in the post lunch session. Jerome Taylor continued to miss his lengths and was punished. The West Indies fielding continued to let the team down. du Plessis, who was dropped on 8 by Samuels, got another reprieve when Suliemann Benn got one to dip and turn inviting the batsman's outside edge. The ball flew quickly to the right of Smith at slip, who, even with an outstretched dive, couldn't enough to hold on.

The very next ball, Dean Elgar stepped out to hit Benn, only to york himself. Keeper, Denesh Ramdin, couldn't gather the ball low-down to effect the stumping. The southpaw went on to hit the next ball over the top of Benn's head to complete his half-century.

With a flick to the fine-leg boundary, Dean Elgar brought up the 100 of the partnership with Faf du Plessis. Elgar, with 59, was the dominant partner as du Plessis searched for his timing. The two capitalized on some poor fielding by the West Indians, who missed as many as four chances, to bring up 150 on the board.

SA 151/1 (Elgar 83*, du Plessis 39*; Gabriel 1/24)

West Indies had as many as four chances - 2 catches, 1 stumping and a run out to reduce South Africa in the post lunch session. However, they didn't capitalize on a single one of them. Dean Elgar and Faf du Plessis batted patiently and added 89 in the 30 overs bowled after lunch. The duo put together a 110-run partnership with the former nearing a century. du Plessis, despite being far from his fluent self, ground his way to 42.

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Faf du Plessis got to his seventh career fifty, his second in Port Elizabeth, when he tickled a Sulieman Benn delivery to the fine-leg boundary. The fifty took three hours of batting and a 137 deliveries. Struggling initially for timing, du Plessis ground his way out of trouble to get to his deserved half-century.

Opener, Dean Elgar completed his third Test century when a thickish outside edge reached the backward-point boundary. The southpaw reached the magical three-figure mark of his 208th delivery. The century was also the second by a South African opener in 2014. The previous one was also scored by Elgar.

Dean Elgar and Faf du Plessis continued their grind in the post Tea session with both the players getting past milestones. du Plessis reached a much needed fifty and was duly followed by Elgar who completed his third Test century. In the process, the duo had added 173 runs at Tea on the first Day.

Meanwhile, left arm spinner, Sulieman Benn, hobbled off the field after injuring his right shoulder while diving at mid-on to save a boundary.

Dean Elgar became 32-year old debutant, Kenroy Peters' first Test wicket but not before he had notched up his third Test century. The left hander feathered a length delivery from Peters to wicket-keeper Denesh Ramdin. The wicket ended a fine 179 partnership between Elgar and Faf du Plessis. The latter marched then marched towards his own Test hundred.

Dean Elgar and Faf du Plessis put on a 179-run partnership to grind West Indies on the opening day of the second Test match in Port Elizabeth. Having been put into bat by Denesh Ramdin, openers Elgar and Alviro Petersen appeared comfortable against the West Indies new ball bowlers before Petersen was dismissed yet again after getting a start. The wicket brought together Faf and Elgar who were circumspect in the first session before lunch. The duo survived multiple chances thanks to a lacklusture fielding display by the visitors that included 2 drop catches, 1 missed stumping and a missed run-out. As the day wore on, Elgar and du Plessis continued to play the field. Elgar brought up his third Test century when he drove Taylor to the point boundary. He was dismissed for 121 by debutant Kenroy Peters. Faf, in the company of skipper Hashim Amla batted out the remaining overs confidently and ended the day, one short of his hundred. He became the 14th player to end a day's play not out on 99. South Africa ended the day at 270/2.

For West Indies, Sulieman Benn bowled well without luck. He appeared to injure his right shoulder in the middle of the final session but came back to bowl. West Indies would hope to pick up early wickets on Day 2 to remain in the game.