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DAY 3: Proteas defeat West Indies by 40 runs in second test

cricket17 August 2024 22:39| © MWP
By:Neil Manthorp
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Kagiso Rabada led the way for South Africa as they beat the West Indies by 40 runs in a tense finish in the second test as the home side were dismissed for 222 chasing 263 for victory on the third afternoon at the Providence Stadium in Georgetown, Guyana, on Saturday.

Rabada claimed 3-50 in 16 overs to finish on 299 test wickets while Keshav Maharaj (3-37) took three of the final four wickets to conclude a tense but well-deserved win.

Earlier, South Africa lost their last remaining five wickets inside the first 11 overs of the day as they slipped from a strong overnight position of 223 for five to 246 all out in their second innings, an overall lead of 262.

South Africa’s excellent sixth-wicket partnership of 85 ended with the sixth ball of the morning when Wiaan Mulder was trapped lbw by left-arm spinner Jomel Warrican’s skiddy arm ball without adding to his overnight 34 which included a pair of fours and sixes on the second evening.

Maharaj completed a hat-trick of ducks in the series with a tame chip to short midwicket against Jayden Seales but there was nothing soft about Seales’ fifth wicket, a magnificent late inswinger to Kyle Verreynne which swerved between bat and pad to hit the top of leg stump. Verreynne’s 59 spanned 78 balls and included eight boundaries and was instrumental to the victory.

22-year-old Seales finished the innings with career-best figures of 6-61 from 18.4 overs when he held a brilliant, reflex catch off his own bowling to dismiss last man Nandre Burger for the third duck of the innings leaving first innings top scorer, Dane Piedt, unbeaten on seven.

The West Indies reached 43 for one at lunch having lost opener Mikyle Louis (4) to a sharp catch at third slip by Mulder off the excellent Rabada, who beat the bat on a dozen occasions and could easily have enjoyed far greater reward than his final analysis.

The West Indies seemed well placed to challenge for victory at 54 for one shortly after lunch but lurched to 127 for six at tea. Mulder trapped captain Kraigg Brathwaite lbw for 25 to begin the collapse and bowled Keacy Carty (17) to tighten the pressure at 62 for three. Kavem Hodge (29) was bowled off an inside edge by Rabada and Alick Athanaze (15) was well caught at slip by Aiden Markram off Dane Piedt.

Jason Holder departed for a 12-ball duck when attempting to launch Piedt for a six but fell short, into the hands of Mulder at long off. Joshua da Silva (27) and Gudakeshie Motie (45) fought valiantly at the end before both were foiled lbw by Maharaj.

Shamar Joseph (11) briefly kept hopes alive before heaving Rabada to mid-off and last man, Jayden Seales (4), nudged Maharaj to David Bedingham at short leg to end the game.

"For a team that is in a transition phase we really did well to come away with this success," said a delighted Maharaj, whose three wickets lifted him one above Hugh Tayfield's 170 as the most successful spinner in South Africa's Test history.

"Getting ready for Test cricket is always part of my plan, no matter what other formats I play. I always have a red ball in my bag."

Maharaj was full of praise for his captain, Temba Bavuma, and his refreshing confidence in slow bowlers.

"He trusts spin and backs spin," he explained.

"He allows me to read the game and brings his input as well. It's a privilege to be in a side led by him."

Wiaan Mulder took the man of the match award, the seam bowling all-rounder making the most of a rare opportunity to play Test cricket by claiming six wickets in the match and also contributing an important 34 runs in the second innings.

"I just wanted the chance to play because I haven't played much Test cricket of late," he said.

"I just tried to bowl as many wobble seam balls as I could because I felt there was enough in the conditions for the ball to swing naturally as well."

For West Indies captain Kraigg Brathwaite, one of Mulder's two wickets in the innings, the fate of the match hinged on the failure of the batting line-up in the first innings.

"We did well to dismiss them for 160 but then didn't put up enough runs in reply. That was crucial," he emphasised.

"Our mindset today was to have intent at the crease and even though myself and the other top-order batters didn't deliver, it was good to see the fight from Motie and others lower down the order."

The first test in Trinidad, robbed of almost 150 overs by rain, finished in a draw. South Africa win the ‘series’ 1-0.

WEST INDIES: Kraigg Brathwaite (captain), Mikyle Louis, Keacy Carty, Alick Athanaze, Kavem Hodge, Jason Holder, Joshua Da Silva (wkt), Gudakesh Motie, Jomel Warrican, Shamar Joseph, Jayden Seales

SOUTH AFRICA" Aiden Markram, Tony de Zorzi, Tristan Stubbs, Temba Bavuma (captain), David Bedingham, Kyle Verreynne (wkt), Wiaan Mulder, Keshav Maharaj, Dane Piedt, Kagiso Rabada, Nandre Burger.

 

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