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Dominant Proteas wrap up test series

cricket11 March 2023 13:11| © MWP
By:Patrick Compton
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Led by a player of the match performance by their skipper, Temba Bavuma, South Africa crushed the West Indies by 284 runs on the fourth day of the 2nd Betway test at the Wanderers in Johannesburg on Saturday afternoon, clinching the series 2-0 after victory by 87 runs in Centurion.

Bavuma struck a magnificent 172 – his second test ton – in South Africa’s second innings of 321, with the West Indies being set an intimidating 391 for victory an hour into the day’s play in which the Proteas added a further 34 runs to their overnight score of 287 for seven.

The visitors’ hopes of putting up stern resistance in the five and a half sessions remaining were dashed almost immediately as Kagiso Rabada grabbed two scalps while the spinners, Simon Harmer and Keshav Maharaj, shared the other four as the tourists crumbled to 34 for six at lunch. Rabada’s job was done at that stage and he finished with 2/19 off seven overs, including the wicket (leg before) of Kraigg Brathwaite, for the seventh time in his last eight innings against the Proteas.

The game was effectively over, but Joshua da Silva and Jason Holder showed some character to add a run-a-ball 48 for the seventh wicket before Gerald Coetzee, steaming in with good pace and aggression, accounted for both of them. Holder played on for 19 while Da Silva (34 off 52 balls) was beaten for pace by one that also kept a little low, knocking back his off-stump. Coetzee finished with 3/37 in his eight overs.

Rabada dismissed Brathwaite for the seventh time in successive innings when he trapped the West Indian captain leg before wicket for 18 with a ball which kept low.

Harmer, who bowled throughout the innings, then had Azarri Joseph stumped to finish with 3/45 in 17.1 overs. The blond offspinner gained prodigious turn and significant bounce on the fourth day and fully justified his selection.

Maharaj also impressed with figures of 2/4 in 2.5 overs, bowling Roston Chase with a beauty, but he was struck down with a bizarre injury while celebrating his second wicket, that of Kyle Mayers, just before lunch. As he began to celebrate, he fell to the ground in agony, clutching his left leg. He was unable to get to his feet and was carried off on a stretcher.

Another injury worry for South Africa was that of Wiaan Mulder who hurt a finger on Friday and was unable to bowl on Saturday. As it turned out, the two fit pacemen – Rabada’s back strain on Thursday was resolved – and the two spinners were able to get the job done.

Aiden Markram, the top run-scorer in the series with 276, including a century in Centurion and 96 in Johannesburg, was named player of the series. Rabada and Joseph were the top wicket-takers with 12 apiece.

Bavuma was fulsome in his praise for his team and declared himself satisfied with their progress. “It was great to see the crowd come out today. I’m satisfied for the team and happy with my performance. Hopefully this (hundred) will be the first of many from now on.” He was concerned, however, that the national team’s next test outing would only take place in December (against India). “We are building a team, and we need to play more test cricket.”

West Indies’ captain Brathwaite gave a simple explanation for his team’s problems: “We didn’t score enough runs. It’s as simple as that. We have some technical issues, perhaps, that we’ll work on, but the real problem is a mental one.” He was also disappointed with his personal contribution with the bat. “I like to lead from the front. On this tour it didn’t happen."

Report Day 1
Report Day 2
Report Day 3

South Africa: Dean Elgar, Aiden Markram, Tony de Zorzi, Temba Bavuma (capt), Ryan Rickelton, Heinrich Klaasen (wk), Wiaan Mulder, Simon Harmer, Keshav Maharaj, Gerald Coetzee, Kagiso Rabada.

West Indies: Kraigg Brathwaite (capt), Tagenarine Chanderpaul, Raymon Reifer, Jermaine Blackwood, Roston Chase, Kyle Myers, Joshua da Silva (wk), Jason Holder, Alzarri Joseph, Gudakesh Motie, Kemar Roach

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