South Africa in strong position

CMC – Ryan Rickelton, David Bedingham, Kyle Verreynne and captain Temba Bavuma all struck 50s as South Africa produced a strong batting effort to keep the West Indies Championship XI in the field for the entirety of day three of the four-day match here Friday.
At the close, the tourists had piled up 408 for eight in reply to the hosts’ 397 at the Brian Lara Stadium, a small lead of 11 runs heading into Saturday’s final day.

Rickelton struck 80, Bedingham scored 74, Verreynne chipped in with 65 while Bavuma got 51, to add to opener Aiden Markram’s breezy top score of 82 on Thursday’s second day.
Resuming the morning on 172 for two, South Africa flourished as Bavuma and Bedingham combined to extend the third wicket by another 56 runs before being separated.

Bavuma, on 36 at the start, faced 145 deliveries and struck half-dozen fours while Bedingham lashed eight fours and three sixes in a 107-ball knock, after resuming on 35.

When both retired, Rickelton and Verreynne arrived to put on 146 for the fifth wicket as South Africa enjoyed precious batting practice ahead of next Wednesday’s start of the first Test against West Indies at Queen’s Park Oval.
Rickelton faced 121 balls and belted half-dozen fours and four sixes while Verreynne struck 13 fours in an innings needing 107 balls.