OBAKENG MELETSE
A defiant West Indies could not stop the Proteas’ dominance of the Caribbean side in Test-match cricket, as they secured yet another series victory with their 40-run win on day three of the second Test at the Providence Stadium in Guyana on Saturday.
The Proteas won the two-match Test series 1-0, after the rain-dominated first encounter played out to a draw. Having been 97-9 after electing to bat first, South Africa did well to claw their way back into the match and they left the Caribbean islands with their 25-year unbeaten record in series between the two nations still intact.
Proteas coach Shukri Conrad can take a lot of positives from the series victory ahead of the home summer and these were some of the standout moments from the series.
Taking the shine off the new ball
The pairing of Aiden Markram and Tony de Zorzi had their first real test as an opening partnership since the retirement of regular opener Dean Elgar.
De Zorzi, promoted one place up from No 3, ended the series as the leading run scorer. Meanwhile, the pair managed to get South Africa off to a good starts with a couple of 70-plus partnerships. Markram’s 51 in the final innings of the series ensured South Africa posted enough runs to defend, while De Zorzi’s 163 runs over the two matches got him off to a good start in his new role.
Maharaj flourishes in tough challenges
Keshav Maharaj continued being consistent, as he claimed the Player of the Series award after picking up 13 wickets, one more than the home side’s impressive Jayden Seales.
The 34-year-old became South Africa's highest wicket taker with spin by taking 171 wickets, moving past Hugh Tayfield’s long-standing record. The wickets of Joshua da Silva (27) and Gudakesh Motie (45), who had threatened to tilt the match back in favour of the home side in the second innings of the second Test, were crucial.
Maharaj finished the match with figures of 5-58.
Verreynne has been as clean as a whistle
Wicketkeeper-batter Kyle Verreynne struck a perfect balance between bat and gloves in the two matches. His 89-run partnership with Wiaan Mulder rescued South Africa from a tricky 139-5 in the second innings of the second Test to a defendable target of 263. The 27-year-old scored a total of 119 runs in three innings with a high score of 59.
Mulder justifies his selection
Needing a solid outing in the absence of regular all-rounder Marco Jansen, Wiaan Mulder delivered decent performances with both bat and ball.
He led the Proteas’ fightback in the final match with his Player-of-the-Match performance after they were bowled out for 160, as he picked up six wickets and scored a handy 34 runs in tricky batting conditions.
The win was the Proteas’ second win in the World Test Championship and they began their summer in emphatic fashion, moving up to fifth in the points table.