South Africa managed to eke out victory in the second Test against the West Indies in Guyana on Saturday, securing the series 1-0.
Kagiso Rabada and Keshav Maharaj combined to bowl out the hosts and secure a 40-run victory on day 3 of the fast-moving Test match.
It was another action-packed day on the spicy Providence pitch, which saw no less than 25 wickets fall in the opening two days.
Starting the day at 223/5 with two well-set batters in Kyle Verryenne (50*) and Wiaan Mulder (34*), the visitors were in the pound seats. But seamer Jayden Seals and spinner Jomel Warrican had other ideas. The duo ran through the South African lower-order, taking the remaining five wickets for just 22 runs added to the total.
That buoyant start with the ball still left the West Indies work to do with the bat, as chasing 263 on a difficult pitch would be no mean feat. And so it proved to be.
The hosts started well thanks to a gutsy 25 from captain and opener Kraigg Braithwaite and 29 from Kavem Hodge. At 99/3 and having seen off the Proteas’ quicks, the West Indies were in with a chance.
But Hodge, Alick Athanaze and the dangerous Jason Holder all fell in quick succession thanks to two wickets from Dane Piedt and one from Rabada, leaving the islanders 104/6. Joshua da Silva and Gudakesh Motie then stopped the rot and put together a 77-run partnership that gave hope of an unlikely victory.
With the pitch slowing but the partnership growing, Maharaj was employed to stem the flow. He trapped Motie and then da Silva in front in consecutive overs, wrestling the initiative back.
Rabada then inched closer to the 300 Test-wicket mark thanks to a nonchalant one-handed grab from captain Temba Bavuma at mid-on to dismiss Shamar Joseph. The premier paceman will have to wait for the Sri Lanka series in November for a chance to be the fastest ever to 300 Test scalps.
Maharaj – who would become South Africa’s most successful spinner after his return of 5/45 for the match – would grab the final wicket of the series and cue the celebrations.
