Another domineering team effort from the Proteas bowling unit has secured a 2-0 away series whitewash against the West Indies.
The home side had a target of 323, and it was always going to be difficult on this surface. Kagiso Rabada again set the tone with the two early wickets of skipper Kraigg Brathwaite and Shai Hope.
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The Windies seemed to recover from the early jolts when Kieran Powell and Kyle Mayers strung together a partnership of 64 runs between them, but the reintroduction to Rabada proved to be pivotal. A short ball outside off invited a pull shot from Mayers, but top-edged a catch to Dean Elgar.
The climactic phase of play was yet to come, even though this was a bright spell from Rabada. Keshav Maharaj took a hat-trick (Powell, Holder, da Silva), with a superb reflex catch from Wiaan Mulder sealing the third wicket for the left-arm spinner.
By that time, the game was well out of reach, but Kemar Roach briefly entertained with some flashy strokeplay before going for one too many big shots against Maharaj and holing out to deep mid-on.
Finally, Jayden Seales’ attempted leg-side slog set up a straightforward catch for Nortje at deep square leg, giving Maharaj a well-deserved 5-wicket haul and ending the game. Roston Chase was unable to bat due to an on-field injury, so the fall of the ninth wicket was effectively the end of the Windies innings.
It’s a first overseas victory for the Proteas in three years, and this one is a performance to savor. Five T20Is are coming up next week, and the visitors will want to maintain their winning ways.
SA 298 + 174
WI 149 + 165 (Powell 51 – Maharaj 5/36)
