A career-best knock by Alick Athanaze proved vital as West Indies saw out the overs to secure a draw in the rain-affected first Test against South Africa at Queens Park Oval in Trinidad.

Athanaze, playing in his eighth match, scored a career-best 92 and shared in half-century stands of 63 and 65 respectively with Kavem Hodge and Jason Holder as the Windies carried on to make 201 for 5 before the captains shook hands on a draw in fading light with 6.4 overs of play remaining On Sunday’s fifth and final day where an hour was lost after lunch as a result of rain.

Hodge who cracked 4 boundaries made 29 while Holder contributed an unbeaten 31 in his 76 ball stay at the crease to deny the South Africans. The result was the first drawn test worldwide in 28 matches dating back to July 2023.

Joshua da Silva, the other not out batsman made 2 while Player of The Match Keshav Maharaj bagged 4 for 88 to follow up on his 4 for 76 from the first innings.

Earlier South Africa came out with clear intent on the fifth morning: to get runs and get them quickly before declaring half an hour before lunch.

With play getting underway early to make up for lost overs on day four they went on to make 173 for 3 declared – having resumed on their overnight 30 without loss.

Tristan Stubbs was the leading batsman slamming 68 from 50 balls while Tony de Zorzi added 45 and Aiden Markram 38 against Jomel Warrican who took 2 for 57 to end the match with a combined six-wickets.

Final scores: South Africa 357 and 173 for 3 declared, West Indies 233 and 201 for 5.

The teams will now travel to Guyana for the second and final Test which bowls off on Thursday.