WI's Bonner suffers blow to his head, out of first Test

St Lucia, June 11 (IANS) West Indies No. 3 batsman Nkrumah Bonner suffered concussion after a sharp bouncer from South Africa pacer Anrich Nortje hit his helmet leading to Keiran Powell taking field as like-for-like replacement on the first day of the first Test.Bonner, who top-edged the first ball he faced off Nortje as he attempted a hook but deflected the ball onto his helmet, continued batting on Thursday despite getting hit before he was dismissed by Kagiso Rabada for 10.The 32-year-old right-handed batsman did not appear on the field when the South Africans batted."Nkrumah Bonner is currently concussed after receiving a blow to his helmet in the 1st innings -- Kieran Powell replaces him in the field #WIvSA," Windies cricket confirmed on its Twitter handle. Bonner, who has played four Test matches and scored a century and two half-centuries in his career, will play no further part in the ongoing Test which is a big blow for the host side after it was bowled out for 97 in first innings.Former West Indies captain Richie Richardson is the match referee for the ongoing Test match.
--IANS kh/