In the second test match against the West Indies, South Africa had a nail-biting finish with a 40-run win. With this victory, South Africa propelled them past Pakistan in the World Test Championship (WTC) standings. Saturday’s win sealed the series and elevated South Africa to fifth place in the WTC points table, placing Pakistan a rung below at sixth.
The Match That Changed the Standings
The South African win came on an eventful third day in Guyana. Setting a target of 263 runs for the West Indies—having earlier fought back to post 298 in their second innings—proved to be a difficult task that the Proteas left them. The final day turned out to be full of tension as West Indies fast bowler Jayden Seales took six wickets in South Africa’s second innings, but the home team fell short at 222 all out.
This result extends an unbeaten streak for the South Africans against the West Indies in the Test series. The first series between these two teams in 1998/99 saw South Africa dominate with a 5-0 victory. Therefore, this series performance of the Proteas is a continuation of the good record held over the Windies since their first Test match in 1992.
Key Performers in the Test
Of all these, the most instrumental was Keshav Maharaj’s left-arm spin, ending with figures of three for 37. Another star for South Africa was Kagiso Rabada, who put in a huge effort with the ball to return three for 50. Rabada now needs only one more wicket to reach 300 Test wickets.
The only time South Africa felt under any real pressure came when Gudakesh Motie and Joshua da Silva partnered in a 77-run stand. Their resistance from a parlous 104 for six did bring the West Indies back into contention. However, Maharaj’s return to the attack broke this partnership as he dismissed both Motie and da Silva.
For his all-round performance, Wiaan Mulder was declared the man of the match. He had six wickets during the game, only aside from the runs he added—34 runs of some worth—in South Africa’s second innings. So, with his efforts, he needed to get South Africa home, making full use of an opportunity in this Test.
West Indies’ Struggle
For West Indies captain Kraigg Brathwaite, the game reflected their recent woes. In a similar scenario of the first innings, the West Indies bowled well to dismiss South Africa for 160, only to falter in their response. Brathwaite admitted taking some heart from the fight shown by lower-order batsmen Motie and da Silva but certainly wasn’t fooled by the overall batting performance.
The first Test of the series in Trinidad was rain-affected, and the game ended in a draw. This win in the series has done much to enhance South Africa’s position in the WTC standings and further instill confidence shortly. It places them on stronger ground as they head into further games.
Conclusion
In a nutshell, South Africa’s 40-run victory over the West Indies sealed the series win for them. It also improved their position in the WTC standings. It has shown the strength and fight of the Proteas, with standout performances by players such as Keshav Maharaj and Wiaan Mulder. For the West Indies, the series exposed areas for improvement, especially regarding batting. While South Africa is to celebrate their win, both teams will keenly prepare for upcoming challenges.
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