West Indies cricket coach Gus Logie was forced to take to the field twice on Sunday after the tourists’ stretched player resources came under renewed pressure.
A day after it was announced that injured top-order batsman Marlon Samuels would follow Jerome Taylor back to the Caribbean, the Windies had to field a 14th man just to keep 11 players on the field against Free State at Goodyear Park.
After dominating the opening two days of the encounter, the Windies came under pressure for the first time on Sunday when the Free State tail wagged vigorously.
At stumps, the Windies had moved to 39 for two when bad light halted play, a lead of 393 with a day still to play.
Free state’s deficit, however, would have been much greater but for the robust efforts of veteran spinner Kosie Venter and debutant Dillon du Preez.
Venter drove and cut powerfully through the off-side in making 72 and starred in two partnerships of 57 for the eighth and ninth wickets.
While Venter held the lower order together, it was Du Preez who provided the spectacular fireworks.
The 22-year-old launched himself at the Windies attack, moving to his half century from just 57 balls after pounding Daren Ganga for two gigantic sixes over mid-wicket.
Du Preez was eventually out for 56, holing out to third man off Mervyn Dillon.
The Windies, however, could call on only two genuine pace bowlers after Corey Collymore was ordered to sit out the match after suffering a slight hamstring strain.
According to the West Indies management, his withdrawal was completely precautionary and he should be fit for the first Test starting at the Wanderers on Friday.
Should Collymore, for whatever reason, not pass his fitness test, the tourists have in Ravindarnath Rampaul an exciting replacement.
The 19-year-old from Trinidad shattered the Free State middle order by taking four wickets in a seven-over burst in the morning session.
Having castled Ryno Arendse on Saturday evening, Rampaul finished with figures of five for 55. — Sapa