'Relentless' Maharaj bowls the longest Test spell in over a decade

As the fourth day of the first Test between West Indies and South Africa ended in Port of Spain, the Proteas made us hopeful of a result. That was largely because of their left-arm spinner, Keshav Maharaj, who bowled 40 overs and picked up four wickets after giving just 76 runs. 

What was even more special about this bowling display from Maharaj was that he bowled all his 40 overs unchanged from one end. He was introduced into the attack by skipper Temba Bavuma in the 13th over of West Indies’ innings during the first session of Day 3. He bowled through the small rain interruptions, continued bowling in the afternoon and evening sessions, and ended his spell late on Day 4, which started after a very long rain break. 

South Africa also took the new ball after the stipulated 80 overs were done, but it didn’t make Bavuma operate with pace from both ends as Maharaj continued to bowl, with Aiden Makram bowling from the other end. Bavuma was smart to see the control his left-arm spinner was providing from one end and gave him an extended run on a track that had just enough moisture (due to the rain) for Maharaj to extract some turn from it.

Earlier, South Africa won the toss and elected to bat first. However, only 15 overs of play was possible on Day 1, and the Proteas ended their first innings on 357 on Day 2, courtesy of Tony de Zorzi’s 78(145) and Bavuma’s 86(182). 

While bowling, Maharaj was the first to get a breakthrough for South Africa as he cleaned up Mikyle Louis with his arm ball that pierced through the gap between the bat and pad and crashed into the stumps. Maharaj completely flummoxed Louis, who played for the non-existent turn. 

Maharaj continued to bowl within himself from one end, giving his runs at less than two runs/over. After Kraigg Braithwaite (35) ran himself out, Maharaj also got Keacy Carty (42 off 81) LBW with another arm ball, but from around the wicket. 

After a few overs, he also got Alick Athanaze, an in-form batter, by beating him all ends up. Not knowing which way the ball would turn, Athanaze came forward to defend a full ball but couldn’t cover the line of the ball and gave an easy catch to Markram at slips. He also got Joshua Da Silva out, who had come to this series on the back of runs in England. 

In fact, if not for the dropping of a slightly tough chance of Kemar Roach by David Bedingham in the slips, Maharaj could have ended his efforts on Day 4 with a fifer. Regardless, he achieved the impressive feat of bowling 40 overs on the trot, which is an immense testament to his stamina and skills, in an era where not a lot of bowlers bowl unchanged.

If you see the list of the bowlers who have bowled the longest spells in Test cricket in the last 15 years or so, another left-arm spinner, Abdur Rehman of Pakistan, is second with 37 overs against England in 2012. Surprisingly, T20 star Sunil Narine is third on the list with a 36-over spell against New Zealand in 2013. 

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