Keshav Maharaj becomes SA's most successful spinner in Tests
South Africa beat West Indies by 40 runs in a hard-fought second Test in Guyana to register a 1-0 series win. Left-arm spinner Keshav Maharaj was instrumental to their win as he claimed five wickets in the match. During his stay, the veteran also became SA's most successful spinner in their Test history. Here we decode his stats.
Fine spells from Maharaj
While SA's pace battery was on a roll in WI's first innings, Maharaj contributed by dismissing tail-enders Gudakesh Motie (11) and Shamar Joseph (25). Maharaj made the old ball talk in his second outing as well. He dismissed well-set batters Joshua Da Silva (27) and Motie (45) in quick intervals. Jayden Seales (4) was his final victim in the game.
Maharaj goes past Tayfield
Maharaj claimed 2/8 (5.4 overs) in his first outing and backed it up with figures worth 3/37 (11.2). As per ESPNcricinfo, he overtook Hugh Tayfield to become the SA spinner with the most Test wickets. Tayfield, who was an offie, finished with 170 scalps. Meanwhile, Maharaj also finished the series as the highest wicket-taker, having scalped 13 wickets at 16.08.
Here are his Test numbers
Maharaj, who claimed twin four-wicket hauls in the first Test, has raced to 171 wickets across 52 Tests at 30.78. He boasts nine fifers. Versus WI, the left-arm spinner now owns 25 wickets from five matches at 16.08. 22 of his wickets have come on Windies soil at 14.59. Maharaj now owns 99 wickets in away matches (home of opposition) at 30.36.
How did the game pan out?
A brilliant fifer from Shamar Joseph meant the Proteas were folded for 160 while batting first. WI could manage only 144/10 in reply as Jason Holder starred with a fighting 54*. Fifties from Aiden Markram and Kyle Verreynne meant SA posted 246/10 in their second outing as WI were asked to chase down 263. They were restricted to 222/10.
