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Rabada and Maharaj Secure Victory for South Africa Over Determined West Indies
Rabada and Maharaj Secure Victory for South Africa Over Determined West Indies
South Africa secured a 10th successive Test series win against West Indies, and earned a vital second win in the World Test Championship 2023-25.
South Africa beat the West Indies by 40 runs on the third day of the second and final Test on Saturday, continuing their strong performance against the Caribbean team. The West Indies were set a tough target of 263 after Jayden Seales took six wickets for 61 runs, bowling out South Africa for 246 in their second innings. Despite their efforts, the West Indies kept losing wickets and were all out for 222. And then Seales was the last player to be dismissed, just before the end of the day's play. He was caught by David Bedingham off a ball from Keshav Maharaj, who was named man of the series with 13 wickets in the two-match series.
Seales set up a challenging target of 263 for the West Indies, making for an exciting chase. The team struggled initially, falling to 104 for 6. However, a 77-run partnership between local favorite Gudakesh Motie and Joshua Da Silva brought them close to a remarkable win. Despite a fearless effort from the lower order, South Africa’s dependable bowlers, Maharaj and Kagiso Rabada, ultimately secured the victory for their team.
In a series challenging for batters, with no centuries scored in the two Tests, no West Indian player managed a half-century in the second innings, and they had only one partnership exceeding fifty runs in the match. In contrast, two South African batters scored fifties in the second innings, and the team had three half-century partnerships overall. A crucial 63-run tenth-wicket stand between Dane Piedt and Nandre Burger in the first innings also played a decisive role.
Overall, the series favored the bowlers, with challenging batting conditions in Trinidad and a pitch offering swing, seam movement, and good bounce in Guyana. Shamar Joseph shone in his first home Test, taking 5 for 33 in the first innings. However, it was the collective effort of South Africa’s bowlers that ultimately gave them the crucial advantage.
Wiaan Mulder, serving as the third seamer and the only seam-bowling allrounder, played a crucial role in South Africa’s victory. He took six wickets in the Test, scored a vital 34 runs in the second innings, and was part of an 85-run sixth-wicket partnership with Kyle Verreynne. His performance helped address concerns about South Africa’s team composition. Despite being a bowler short in Trinidad and a batter short in Guyana, they managed to defend a total on a three-day-old pitch that had become better for batting.
Chasing a target of 263, the West Indies lost Mikyle Louis in the fifth over when he edged a delivery from Rabada to Mulder at third slip. Three overs later, Rabada thought he had dismissed Kraigg Brathwaite for 17 lbw, but the West Indian captain successfully reviewed the decision, with replays showing the impact was outside off. The West Indies went to lunch at 43 for 1.
Braithwaite added only eight more runs before Mulder beat his inside edge and struck him on the knee roll. He was given out again and reviewed the decision, but this time the review was unsuccessful. Mulder nearly dismissed Keacy Carty, who was on 17, in his next over when Carty sliced a wide ball to point, but Mulder had overstepped. Three balls later, South Africa reviewed a Burger appeal for lbw against Alick Athanaze, but it was also outside the line, leading to their frustration. However, their spirits lifted when Carty chopped a delivery from Mulder onto his stumps without adding to his score, putting South Africa back in the game.
Kavem Hodge responded aggressively to the short ball, pulling Mulder through mid-wicket and square leg, and hitting two boundaries off three deliveries from Rabada. However, he played one shot too many and inside-edged Rabada onto his stumps. At this point, offspinner Piedt was introduced into the attack for the first time in the match. He bowled full, flighted deliveries to tempt Alick Athanaze, who struggled to rotate the strike. Athanaze eventually attempted a rash sweep and top-edged the ball behind the keeper, where Aiden Markram ran back from slip to take a good, high catch.
Athanaze’s inexperience showed when he got out, and Jason Holder’s quick dismissal indicated South Africa’s control. Motie, despite not doing well with the ball, helped with the bat, partnering with Da Silva to bring the target below 100. Motie attacked Piedt successfully but struggled against Maharaj, eventually getting out lbw. Da Silva was dismissed in the next over, both decisions confirmed by reviews. Maharaj’s wickets helped him match Hugh Tayfield as South Africa’s top spinner.
Rabada, needing two wickets for 300, was brought back but couldn’t reach the milestone. Temba Bavuma made a stunning catch to dismiss Joseph. Maharaj then secured the win by catching Seales, who had been key in South Africa’s earlier collapse. South Africa celebrated their victory, with Maharaj surpassing Tayfield as the top spinner.
Warrican struck early, dismissing Mulder with an arm ball that hit him on the back pad. This prompted Kraigg Brathwaite to bring Seales into the attack earlier than planned. Maharaj, under pressure, throw his second ball to Motie at mid-wicket,getting out without scoring for the third time in a row on the tour.. Seales then beat Kyle Verreynne’s inside edge, securing his second Test five-for. Pedt and Rabada extended the lead beyond 250, but just before the second new ball was available, Rabada edged a delivery from Warrican to Hodge at slip.
The West Indies took the new ball as soon as it was available, and Seales made an impact. Burger hit the fourth ball back to Seales, who caught it with both hands to his right, ending South Africa’s innings 50 minutes into the third day. Burger’s zero was the third of the innings and the seventh of the match for South Africa, their highest since 1932.
South Africa is now fifth on the WTC points table with six matches left. The West Indies remain in ninth place with only one win.
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